FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The Eagles held the 14th open practice of their 2026 training camp — the second of two joint practices with the Patriots — on Thursday at the New Balance Athletics Center. Here were my observations from Day 14 (and links to Days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13):
Lemon drop
Makai Lemon made his official return to practice after missing more than two weeks with a hamstring injury. The Eagles listed him as limited the day before, but he wasn’t in pads and did almost nothing. The rookie wide receiver was fully suited up on Thursday, however, and participated in individual drills. It’s unlikely he plays Saturday against the Patriots in the second preseason game, but there’s a chance he can get some live repetitions in the preseason finale vs. the Bengals on Aug. 28.
Makai Lemon was back at practice for the Eagles on Thursday. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring) was limited for a third straight day. Receiver Elijah Moore was added to the injury list after suffering a neck injury on Wednesday. The following players continued to be sidelined: Defensive tackle Byron Young (shoulder), cornerback Jonathan Jones (shoulder), tight end Grant Calcaterra (back), cornerback Jakorian Bennett (knee), receiver Johnny Wilson (knee), running back Dameon Pierce (hamstring), tackle John Ojukwu (pectoral), and cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields (heel).
Defensive tackle Jalen Carter was excused for a personal reason. Outside linebacker Keyshawn James-Newby (ankle) and cornerback Shaun Wade (eye/shoulder) were also limited.
Riq Woolen (with ex-Eagle Milton Williams) had a stronger Day 2 against the Patriots. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Riq-ola
Riq Woolen had a tough first joint practice with the Pats, but he rebounded on Day 2. If there’s a position where you need to have a short memory, it’s cornerback. And Woolen showed it with his performance 24 hours later. He allowed some catches, but he prevented as many.
He was involved in maybe the two biggest plays of the day. With the Patriots near the goal line, Woolen lined up over A.J. Brown, who got the better of the corner several times the day before. Brown ran a quick out pattern and Woolen was in his hip pocket. Quarterback Drake Maye only had eyes for his No. 1 receiver. Woolen read them, jumped the route and raced the other way with the ball. He flopped into the end zone for a would-be 100-yard interception return for a touchdown.
Later in the final red zone period when both teams converged on one field, Maye again forced a throw to Brown. Woolen had tight man coverage on the short route and ripped the ball out into the air. Outside linebacker Jalyx Hunt dove and somehow caught the ball before it hit the ground. Hunt just has a sense for the ball. He’s had a great summer.
Woolen also notched a few pass breakups vs. Romeo Doubs, who gave him fits on Wednesday too. He lost the Patriots receiver in the final red zone period and didn’t have over-the-top help from safety Andrew Mukuba. Woolen slapped his hands in frustration, but he bounced back on the two-point conversion and made sure a juggling Brown didn’t secure the ball inbounds.
Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell looks over at Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown during a joint practice on Thursday. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Brown points
Brown might not have been as spectacular as he was in the first workout, but he had his moments. He once again faced cornerback Quinyon Mitchell in the first one-on-one. Brown made an acrobatic catch in which he tipped the ball to himself and dragged his feet in the back corner of the end zone. The nearby referee ruled him out, but I thought he was inbounds.
In two-on-two drills, Brown got Mitchell to slip after his break and scored. He flashed his strong hands on a contested ball over the middle a few reps later. Brown also caught a touchdown in 11-on-11 drills near the stands and celebrated with Patriots fans. Mitchell had a few strong reps as well. He locked up Brown on a deep route in which Maye’s aimless pass fell to the ground.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts and Co. had their successes in the one-on-one and two-on-two portions. Tight end Dallas Goedert used subtle movements to create enough separation for a catch in the end zone. Quarterback Andy Dalton fired a pass to Eli Stowers that sailed past the rookie tight end before he looked back. Dalton looked nonplussed.
There was a similar miscommunication between Hurts and Hollywood Brown in which the receiver didn’t turn his head in time. Hurts had a visual reaction and spoke to Brown afterward. They’ve had mix-ups in their first camp together, but have worked on improving their chemistry after practice. It eventually paid off (foreshadowing).
Sean Mannion’s offense was hot and cold again in the second joint practice with the Patriots. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Running up that hill
I spent most of practice watching the Eagles offense. Sean Mannion’s unit started slow and finished strong, unlike the day before when it got off to a hot start before petering out. With most of team drills worked inside the red zone, the condensed area made it more difficult for the pass offense.
The run offense didn’t have that excuse and it struggled after an impressive showing the day prior. Saquon Barkley had few holes, especially on outside zone runs. He was strung out on his first carry. Patriots edge Gabe Jacas broke through for a tackle for loss on Barkley’s next tote. Patriots defensive tackle Milton Williams was able to get inside tackle Lane Johnson and stop Barkley after a minimal gain.
New England’s defense pushed the envelop at times and would tackle to the ground. Johnson took exception at one point and there was a scrum. The Eagles’ frustration boiled over several more times. Barkley appeared to get into it with Patriots defensive tackle Christian Barmore even though neither was participating in the drills. Receiver Dontayvion Wicks was in the middle of a fracas that halted practice.
Tackle Jordan Mailata said afterward that the fights disrupted the flow of the run game. But it was tough sledding for both of the Eagles’ units. Running backs Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley —who shined on Wednesday — kept getting bottled up.
Jalen Hurts struggled at times on Thursday. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Tough enough
The lack of production on the ground made it even harder on the passing attack. On Hurts’ first drop, Williams beat his block and was in the quarterback’s face for a would-be sack. Hurts kept playing, but his pass was deflected to Patriots cornerback Marcus Jones for an interception and he ran the other way. A play later, the blitz was picked up, but Hurts rushed his throw to receiver Darius Cooper and it fell incomplete. The Eagles ended the set with a touchdown when Hurts found Goedert over the middle in the back of the end zone.
The first offense went back to being out of sorts, though, in the next stanza. Hurts picked up some yards on a draw play. But Wicks dropped a pass. And when Hurts had nothing, he held the ball and was pressured into taking a would-be loss. Later on, Patriots linebacker Christian Elliss wasn’t fooled by another Hurts draw. Safety Kevin Byard blitzed the “A” gap and was unblocked. Hurts again kept the play alive, but edge Elijah Ponder dropped and broke up the throw to Bigsby.
Dontayvion Wicks had a TD and was also the intended receiver on a Patriots interception. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Pick-le ball
Hurts rebounded with another touchdown in the post — this time to Wicks, who celebrated with Bigsby. But for every positive there were two or three negatives. Hurts was tackled for a loss by Patriots linebacker K.J. Britt on a busted designed run. Two plays later, Jones had his second pick of Hurts when he stepped in front of Wicks near the sideline.
The quarterback went back to Wicks over the middle on a quick timing play that had misdirection motion at the snap at the start of the next set. But center Cam Jurgens got beat when Patriots defensive tackle Cory Durden penetrated into the backfield and sacked Hurts.
Then the Eagles committed a false start. Hurts scrambled out of bounds for little or no gain. And when Bigsby finally broke outside for a long run, a holding penalty negated the first down. Mannion did manage to scheme tight end Johnny Mundt open for yards after the catch on a crosser. But the period ended without points.
Hollywood Brown (0) made up for a previous route blunder with a touchdown in the scrimmage portion of practice. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Red-letter end
The Eagles first offense would save face in the final red zone “scrimmage.” Hurts was workmanlike. He hit Goedert on a quickie for six yards. He then went to Wicks, who turned his defender around the 5-yard line. On first and goal, Hurts was flushed to the right and he found Hollywood Brown in the back of the end zone. But the receiver couldn’t get both feet inbounds.
Hurts had good protection on the next down, though, and hurled a strike to a diving Brown for the touchdown. Cooper hauled in the ensuing two-pointer after Hurts bought time outside the pocket, but another holding penalty took the conversion off the board.
Jordan Davis (90) was disruptive on Thursday. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
In the trenches
Even without Carter and Young, the Eagles’ interior defensive line won the run battle. Every time I glanced over to the other field, defensive tackles Jordan Davis and Moro Ojomo disrupted the Patriots’ ground assault. Vic Fangio can get away with the highest percentage of light boxes in the NFL because he has the horses up front.
I didn’t catch all of the one-on-ones between the Eagles’ pass rushers and the Patriots offensive line, but of the matchups I watched, they fared well. Hunt split his two reps vs. tackle Will Campbell, but edge Nolan Smith Jr. had victories over tackle Marcus Bryant. Defensive tackle Ty Robinson used his trusty old club/swim move to win his first turn, but guard Alijah Vera-Tucker took the rematch.
Linebacker Zack Baun took a rare pass rush and dusted tackle Caleb Lomu. Edge Arnold Ebiketie had a win and draw vs. tackle Dametrious Crownover. The education of rookie defensive tackle Uar Bernard continued. Guard JonDarius Morgan handled him with relative ease.
Tanner McKee (16) was the second quarterback up on Thursday. Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer
Second fiddle
Tanner McKee got the nod ahead of Dalton in the first set with the second offense. The quarterback connected with receiver Samori Toure on an out pattern and checked down to Stowers. Speaking of Stowers, he had a solid lead block on a Bigsby run to the perimeter. Another Eagles holding penalty brought back a later Bigsby run.
McKee tried for Quez Watkins on a corner fade into the end zone, but his pass was too high for the receiver to pull in. Speaking of penalties, the Eagles had an offensive pass interference on a screen. McKee was forced to scramble when a bubble screen to receiver Britain Covey was thwarted. He did hook up with tight end E.J. Jenkins in between the hashes.
Dalton was under center for the final red-zone period. He hit Watkins for a first down on his first drop. But the quarterback and receiver were out of sync on their next target. Dalton then threw out of bounds when Stowers was covered. And on fourth-and-goal, his pass to Toure was a touch late and broken up.
Extra points
Rookie quarterback Cole Payton got the day off — at least in team drills. … Shipley and Cooper were the first two returners during kickoff drills. … The Eagles will have a closed walkthrough ahead of Saturday’s preseason game with the Patriots. Few, if any of the starters are expected to play. Sunday will be an off day. Camp resumes back in Philly on Monday.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Jordan Mailata succinctly summed up the reasoning behind the offense’s inefficiencies in its second joint practice against the New England Patriots on Thursday.
“Less boxing and more football,” Mailata said.
No, neither team channeled its inner Muhammad Ali and let the punches fly. Pushing, shoving, and grabbing characterized the handful of skirmishes between the Eagles offense and Patriots defense on the final day of joint practices.
Nonetheless, those quarrels quashed the Eagles’ momentum, especially on the ground, according to Mailata. Their inability to run the ball effectively on Thursday paled in comparison to Wednesday’s performance, when Saquon Barkley & Co. seemingly exploited every seam.
“The run game had a better flow yesterday,” Mailata said. “There were less fights. The fighting, we’ve got to cut that out, ’cause it kills momentum. And then both sides are now amped up, and now we’re not thinking about our assignment. We’re thinking about roughing the next guy. Which is great, but again, not effective in our scheme and concept of things.”
Barkley didn’t mince words, either, about how fighting can derail the intent of the practice with another team.
“I hate joint practices, to be honest,” Barkley said. “I think one day’s good. But we play in an ego-filled sport with a lot of men.”
He continued: “It’s just more times than not, nothing good comes out of it. When you have the work, it’s good, but then you get the pushing, the shoving, and someone says this about you, and I’m like, ‘I don’t know, but I’m not that. You’re this.’ It’s immature when we get to that level. I’ve got to do a better job, too, ‘cause I’m a little troublemaker sometimes. But I was good this week.”
“The run game had a better flow yesterday,” Eagles tackle Jordan Mailata said after Thursday’s joint practice with the Patriots. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Barkley got involved in a scrum at one point during 11-on-11s when the backups were on the field. Earlier, tensions also flared between Lane Johnson and Patriots linebacker K.J. Britt. They exchanged shoves after Barkley ran up the middle, picked up just a few yards and tight end Johnny Mundt was blocked to the ground.
The Eagles running backs failed to rip off long gains all morning. Tank Bigsby nearly had one with the starting offense as he bounced outside to the left, but the play was brought back due to a holding penalty.
The one step forward, one step back nature of the run game’s progress throughout joint practices wasn’t concerning to Mailata as the Eagles nail down the new scheme under Sean Mannion. Even though the run game wasn’t at its best on Thursday, Mailata said he still sees the potential in the group as Week 1 looms just 24 days away.
“The running backs are doing a great job, Saquon’s doing a great job of getting to his reads on the run,” Mailata said. “The beautiful thing about our scheme is you can hit anywhere and, again, it’s not just all on Saquon. It’s got to be on us up front. We’ve got to get to our landmarks and win our block up front. Some of that today wasn’t there.”
But that execution was there on Wednesday from the entire rushing unit. Mannion’s vision for the run game, rooted in the wide-zone blocking scheme typically incorporated among offshoots of the Kyle Shanahan/Sean McVay scheme, is beginning to take shape, Mailata said.
“We were able to see with the misdirections and the way the concept is designed where the ball can hit anywhere,” Mailata said.
Barkley said he is excited about the potential of the run game, too. That excitement is unrelated to the performance of the offense in training camp, though, and more rooted in the process.
“I’m super excited, because I know how great this team will be and how great we can be,” Barkley said. “I know what it looks like when we’re all on the same page and we’re playing at a high level. But right now, this whole portion of camp and this part of the season, it’s really about just grinding, putting the little things together.
“The kind of mindset I’m going to have for the rest of the season, just be process-driven. Don’t really get too caught up in the results of what it can be or what it can look like. And just let the process take care of the rest.”
A new fitness show has hit YouTube, and the first episode stars the Philly area’s own Kylie Kelce.
On Thursday, the debut episode of Power Hour with Ilona Maherdropped, and Maher, one of the stars of the 2024 U.S. Olympic rugby team, brought Kelce, her friend and fellow athlete, into the gym to lift weights, complete challenges, and talk sports.
“Here we champion three things: strength, pushing boundaries, and looking good while doing it,” Maher said in the episode’s intro.
Between jokes about what position they could play on the Eagles, the team for which Kelce’s husband, Jason Kelce, played for 13 seasons, and comparing Instagram hate comments, Maher instructed Kelce on how to do an incline bench press and throw medicine balls.
The duo kept it real, though, as the sometimes adult-themed conversation strayed from gym-related content and they laughed about dating failures and facing sexism as women in sports.
“Do you objectify [Jason]?” Maher asked.
“Of course I do,” Kelce responded, jokingly. “It’s all about equality.”
Maher, who has previously appeared on Kelce’s Not Gonna Lie podcast, is retired from professional rugby, and Kelce played field hockey at Cabrini after graduating from Lower Merion. More recently, they have advocated for women in sports and philanthropic causes.
The two appeared together earlier this summer at the sixth annual Team 62 fundraiser in Sea Isle City, where Maher was among the celebrity bartenders for the Kelces’ annual event for the Eagles Autism Foundation.
Kylie Kelce adds some money to the cash register during the Shore Birds celebrity bartending event in Sea Isle.Courtesy of the Philadelphia Eagles
Kelce has been outspoken about her life as a mother of four and brought that experience into the weight room on Power Hour. The final challenge, dubbed “The Motherhood,” reversed the roles and put Maher to the test, challenging her to grab the kids, pick up the toys, and, at the end of it all, push a classic weighted sled, which represented the expectations society puts on mothers.
“To put this pressure on moms, have your kid and get right back in shape,” Maher said, stunned.
“That’s the dumbest part,” Kelce responded. “You just built a human being, and people are like, ‘You gonna bounce back?’”
New episodes of Power Hour with Ilona Maher drop on Thursdays.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Turning his head left and right to scan for onlookers on the sidelines, A.J. Brown ran across the Patriots practice field and only slowed down his trot as he finally approached Jalen Hurts.
The two men shared a high five, a hug and a brief conversation. Once considered close friends, the players looked like they couldn’t contain their smiles as they caught up.
The nature of the conversation remained a mystery, but it was a meeting fans and NFL observers had been anticipating for months.
For the first time since Brown was traded from the Eagles to the Patriots on June 1, the once-inseparable duo met on the lower practice field at New Balance Athletics Center, which is adjacent to Gillette Stadium, after their teams met for the second day of joint practices.
Brown and Hurts’ relationship goes back nearly a decade, when Hurts hosted Brown on a recruiting trip at the University of Alabama. The relationship blossomed to the point that Hurts was named godfather to Brown’s daughter, Jersee.
Their bond loosened near the end of their four-year run together in Philadelphia, with Brown reportedly wanting out due to frustration over his lack of targets last season.
A.J. Brown (right) approached Jalen Hurts on the practice field Thursday. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Whatever tension exists, both players have acknowledged the success they had during their tenure together. Hurts helped Brown post the two highest single-season receiving yard totals in Eagles history — 1,496 yards in 2022 and 1,456 in 2023. With Brown as his No. 1 target, Hurts grew into a three-time Pro Bowler and MVP candidate in 2022.
The pair helped lift the Eagles to a Super Bowl win in the 2024 season.
Brown spoke with a group of reporters on Wednesday and was asked about his relationship with Hurts.
“Philly, man, y’all are tough,” Brown said with a laugh. “Man, it’s love. Listen, honestly guys, none of that stuff even matters. You all should want to report something positive. You know asking the question is going to turn negative. Let’s not get into that. Let’s keep everything positive.
“It’s love my way. And move forward, that’s all.”
Hurts was asked a similar question Wednesday, as Brown spoke on another field.
“I think it was a great day out here,” Hurts said. “I mean, I know he’s going out there and competing. Got a lot of love for him. I always have. Seems like it was a competitive practice.”
Both men will be in attendance when the Patriots host the Eagles in both teams’ second preseason game on Saturday, but neither is expected to play.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Makai Lemon is officially back.
On Thursday, the Eagles wide receiver — who had been nursing a hamstring injury for over two weeks — returned to practice for the first time since Day 4 of Eagles training camp on Aug. 3.
It was an eventful week for the rookie to return as the Eagles took on the Patriots in the second of two joint practices at the New Balance Athletics Center adjacent to Gillette Stadium.
The 22-year-old Lemon was still limited on Thursday and he did not participate in team drills, but his return to full-pad action is encouraging.
This comes one day after the Eagles listed Lemon as limited on a day when Lemon was not in full uniform and was mostly held out. Last week, Lemon was on the field prior to practices at Jefferson Health Training Complex, catching passes from the JUGS machine and partaking in light warmups.
DeVonta Smith, Dontayvion Wicks, Hollywood Brown, Elijah Moore and Darius Cooper have topped the wide receiver depth chart with Lemon sidelined.
Lemon’s return is crucial for an Eagles passing offense that struggled against New England on Wednesday and was held to seven points in their preseason loss to the Ravens last Saturday. The Eagles selected Lemon with the No. 20 overall pick in April’s draft with the expectation that he would bolster the offense. Quarterback Jalen Hurts praised the former USC star last week.
“I think he’s been very intentional with [learning]. I think he’s all ears,” Hurts said. “I think he’s a very intentional, quiet, mild-mannered hard worker. He’s hungry.
“[USC] Coach [Lincoln] Riley has always said a great number of things about Makai and how he prepares and how intense he is in the walkthroughs. I’ve seen the same thing here.”
These are the Philly area’s best athletes under 25 years old.
By
Inquirer Sports Staff
Published
The Philadelphia area's sports scene is on the rise — and we're not talking about the addition of LeBron James to the city's professional ranks.
The region's professional sports franchises are only part of the picture. There also are athletes enrolled in the area's many colleges and universities, a wealth of talent at the high school and amateur levels, and others who dominate individual sports like boxing or figure skating. We decided it was about time to spotlight some of the best.
Welcome to The Inquirer's first 25 Under 25 list, highlighting the region's best athletes under the age of 25.
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The criteria is simple. To qualify for our list, an athlete must:
Be under 25 as of July 1, 2026, and
Currently reside in or train in the Philadelphia area (the city, collar counties, or South Jersey) and/or play for one of the area's colleges or professional teams (including their minor league affiliates).
That second rule means that high school students from the Class of 2026 are ineligible, since many have already arrived on their respective college campuses across the country. A few of them can be found on our list of the best players fromhere, which includes Philly athletes playing elsewhere. However, there is one exception this year, which we'll explain when we get there.
With those qualifications in mind, we went searching for the best of the best. And after much debate among our sports editors, we came away with 25 athletes who truly show the region's depth of talent at every level across a variety of sports. Here they are, presented in alphabetical order.
Jasmine Bascoe
Age: 20
Jasmine Bascoe was an all-conference selection for Villanova as a freshman in 2024-25 after leading the Wildcats with 16.2 points and 4.3 assists per game in 34 games.
Bascoe, who’s from the Toronto area, followed a stellar freshman season with an even better sophomore campaign, again leading the team in points (18.9) and assists (4.8) per game. She was the Big East’s leading scorer last season, beating UConn stars Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd. Bascoe led Denise Dillon’s Wildcats back to the 2026 NCAA Tournament after a two-season drought, and the Wildcats retained Bascoe for a third season. If Bascoe takes another step forward, Villanova could be a team to watch in March.
“Denise, she trusts me, and I have all my trust in her, so I’ll do whatever she needs me to do,” Bascoe said ahead of her sophomore season. “I love it in Philly — nowhere else I’d rather be.”
Bascoe’s Villanova inspiration
Villanova’s Jasmine Bascoe is having an impressive freshman season. She draws inspiration from a Wildcats legend.
She watched Jalen Brunson from home in Canada and hopes to shape her game around his. So far, it's paying off for her and the Wildcats.
Justin Crawford
Age: 22
Justin Crawford, one of the Phillies’ top five prospects entering the year, made his big league debut on opening day and has appeared in all but 10 games so far this season. Heading into play Wednesday, Crawford is slashing .270/.316/.361 as a rookie, and, after an early adjustment period at the plate, has hit .305 since June 1. The center fielder's defense also has steadily improved.
As for his struggles against left-handed pitching, which relegated him to a platoon role earlier in the season, Crawford hopes to pick the brain of new teammate Luis Arraez, a three-time batting champ and two-time Silver Slugger. And like Crawford, Arraez is a lefty who hits for average. Since Arraez’s arrival earlier this month, Crawford has been even better, slashing .342/.381/.500.
Commentary from David Murphy
Justin Crawford delights his dad Carl and showed the Phillies the weapon they might have in the nine-hole
Crawford didn’t just perform as advertised on opening day. He showed the value of what was advertised.
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Reese D’Ariano
Age: 17
The youngest member of the current United States field hockey team, Reese D’Ariano has plenty of international experience at just 17 years old. Before the field hockey World Cup in Belgium, D’Ariano won two gold medals with USA field hockey, including at the 2024 Indoor Pan American Cup in Calgary, Canada, where she was named tournament MVP. D’Ariano, who is a rising senior at Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School and committed to the University of North Carolina, is one of the top prospects in her class.
Before she began training with WC Eagles, her field hockey club, D’Ariano would train at a multipurpose field with her mother while her brother had swim practice. “Obviously, the progression was slow if you saw it day to day,” D’Ariano said. “But as the weeks and months went on, it was a pretty drastic change in how I progressed.”
Climbing the ranks
Reese D’Ariano embraces role as youngest player on USA field hockey’s World Cup roster
The 17-year-old, West Chester native was 9 the last time the U.S. women’s national team qualified for the FIH Hockey World Cup. This will mark her biggest stage, and she's looking to contribute.
Riley Davis
Age: 16
Entering her senior year at Academy of Notre Dame de Namur, Riley Davis is the top-ranked lacrosse player in the Class of 2027, according to Inside Lacrosse. The five-star recruit and Penn State commit is a two-way midfielder for the Irish and also plays on the school’s varsity basketball team.
Riley’s father, Ben, played seven years in the MLB as a catcher. Her mother, Megan, was a two-sport athlete at Rutgers. Her brother, Tague, set Louisville’s freshman home run record (18) last year and led the nation in home runs (34) as a sophomore. Her older sister, Finley, is entering her freshman year at Furman, where she will play lacrosse after playing with Riley at Notre Dame.
Despite all that competition, Riley is considered the most athletic in a family of high-level athletes. “Riley is the best athlete in the family,” Ben told The Inquirer in April.
A family of stars
Former MLB catcher Ben Davis’ family is full of athletes. His daughter, Riley, might be the best.
Riley Davis is ranked as the No. 1 lacrosse player in the class of 2027. Her mother, Megan, and older sister, Finley, are “the anchor and the force” that guided her success.
Cooper DeJean
Age: 23
Securing your first career pick-six in the Super Bowl on your birthday is the kind of story dreams are made of. But that’s Cooper DeJean’s real life. DeJean, however, is much more than just that moment. He earned first-team All-Pro honors as the league’s best slot cornerback in 2025. He’s also one heck of a basketball player.
Now, he is taking on a new role as a safety in Vic Fangio’s base defense. He’ll still see the majority of his snaps in the slot, but his growing positional versatility is a testament to his skill as he becomes one of the Eagles’ most important players.
“Playing nickel in this defense is kind of like playing safety in a lot of ways,” DeJean said. “A lot of the techniques are pretty similar.”
DeJean’s making moves
How Cooper DeJean’s ‘first love’ of basketball helped set him on a path to the Eagles
Growing up in small-town Iowa, playing multiple sports was the norm. But DeJean stood out, especially on the basketball court, and he has the highlight reel to prove it.
Audrey Derivaux
Age: 17
A four-time world junior swimming champion, Haddonfield’s Audrey Derivaux was the No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2027. But Derivaux recently reclassified to the Class of 2026 to start her collegiate swimming journey at Texas a year earlier than expected. Derivaux shared the news on her social media with an Instagram post captioned, “See you in August, Austin! Can’t wait to rep the Longhorns next season!”
(Editor’s note: Derivaux reclassified to 2026 after our list was complete.)
Derivaux, who turned 17 earlier this month, in 2024 was the youngest swimmer to reach the finals of an Olympic trial since 2012 when she was 14 years old. She competed in the women's 400 individual medley, but fell short of earning a spot in Paris. In July, she competed in the USA Swimming national championship, finished with the second-best time in the 100-meter butterfly, and won a trio of under-18 events (the women’s 100- and 200-meter butterfly and the women’s 400-meter individual medley).
Derivaux on the rise
Meet Haddonfield’s Audrey Derivaux, the 14-year-old who’s swimming’s next rising star
The rising sophomore at Haddonfield Memorial High School became the youngest swimmer to reach the finals of an Olympic trial since 2012. Could the 2028 Olympics be next?
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Natalie Dove
Age: 24
Since her professional debut in 2023, Natalie Dove is undefeated in nine fights — with two knockouts and five unanimous decisions. Dove, a super flyweight, remained undefeated in her most recent bout, an eight-round slugfest against Maria Micheo Santizo in April that ended with a split decision.
“No Love” Dove initially was exposed to the sport as a self-defense method and started sparring in Philadelphia at 14. She fought in amateur tournaments and trained as a hopeful for the 2020 Olympics before turning pro. Since May 2025, Dove has fought for Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions. She credits her toughness in the ring to her upbringing in Philly gyms and learning to hold her own “in a gym full of grown men that … talk [trash] the entire time.”
“I really don’t care what anyone says,” Dove said last year. “If anything, I’m probably the biggest bully in the gym. I think it just made me tougher and it made boxing fun for me.”
When Doves fly
How Philly’s Natalie Dove went from shadow boxing in her sleep to fighting with Jake Paul’s promotion
The 23-year-old Philly native had Olympic dreams. Now, she's preparing to face Randee Lynn Morales on Saturday for Jake Paul's MVP.
VJ Edgecombe
Age: 21
By the end of his first professional game, VJ Edgecombe already had flashed his star potential. The No. 3 overall pick in last year’s draft finished third in NBA Rookie of the Year voting and is set to start alongside Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and LeBron James. But don’t let him slip under the radar behind those huge names.
Edgecombe averaged 16 points per game last season and performed even better in the critical stretch in which Maxey, Embiid, and Paul George were sidelined. Brown, whose Celtics were eliminated in seven games by the Sixers, praised Edgecombe as a difference-maker in that first-round series. His teammates agree.
“He’s the guy,” Embiid said after the Sixers’ season ended. “I’m telling you guys, that guy is something different, and this was only Year 1. Year 2 is going to be better.”
Sixers’ future is now
‘I want us to go down in history’: Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe’s bond will shape the Sixers’ future
Maxey and Edgecombe have served as the life source of this Sixers season. The franchise will likely will go as far as they can take them — now and in the years to come.
Tyson Foerster
Age: 24
Before an upper-body injury sidelined Tyson Foerster for 49 games, the winger was on pace for career-best numbers with 13 goals in 29 games thanks to a shot head coach Rick Tocchet called “really elite.” The Flyers signed Foerster to an eight-year extension this offseason, so, barring a trade, the winger will be in Philadelphia for years to come. He couldn’t be happier.
“For me, I love Philadelphia, and I love playing with these guys,” he said. “They asked me if I would look to extend this year, and it was a no-brainer for me. I mean, I don’t play hockey for the money, so it’s all fun, and just happy to be here, hopefully, for the next nine years.”
Foerster’s big payday
Tyson Foerster talks lucrative extension with the Flyers: ‘It was a no-brainer for me’
Foerster missed 49 games because of injury a season ago, but cited his love of the Flyers and his teammates for why he inked an extension perhaps ahead of schedule.
Colton Hiller
Age: 16
Colton Hiller, the No. 2 player in the Class of 2028, is a 6-foot-7 small forward for Coatesville. In his sophomore season, he averaged 25 points, six rebounds, three assists, and 1.8 steals. Ahead of his junior year, Hiller is uncommitted but holds offers from more than 15 schools, including Villanova and Penn State. Last summer, he was part of the gold-medal winning Team USA at the FIBA U16 AmeriCup, where he averaged 13 points in six games.
In his two seasons with the Red Raiders, the five-star recruit has already surpassed 1,000 career points. He plays travel basketball in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League, representing the 17-and-under PSA Cardinals, based in New York.
Despite having ‘a lot of eyes on me,’ hoops star Colton Hiller plans to stay at Coatesville
The 15-year-old, who’s nationally ranked, just wrapped up a stellar sophomore season. With the spotlight only getting bigger, Hiller has remained committed to developing in his hometown.
Maxwell Hiller
Age: 17
Maxwell Hiller — yes, he’s Colton’s older brother — also is a five-star recruit, but not in basketball. The Coatesville offensive lineman is entering his senior year and is the top-ranked interior O-lineman in the nation and No. 2 player overall for the Class of 2027, according to 247Sports. With more than 40 college offers, Hiller received his first college offer in eighth grade from Penn State. In April, the 6-foot-5 lineman committed to Florida.
“I don’t even watch the play, I just watch [Max],” Colton said of his brother. “I definitely like when he gets people on the ground, just pancakes, and that’s probably my favorite part.”
Max also played basketball, using it as a way to stay in shape, and even received an offer to play college hoops at La Salle.
Two Hillers are better than one
Meet Coatesville High’s Maxwell and Colton Hiller, who are rising stars in different sports
Max is a rising junior and ranked as one of the best offensive tackles in the country. Colton, who recently turned 15, is a 6-foot-6 shooting guard ranked No. 4 in his class.
Salman Khalil
Age: 21
Cairo-born Salman Khalil has been a standout in squash for Penn since he joined the Quakers in 2023. He was the Ivy League’s Rookie of the Year in 2023-24 and was the conference’s Player of the Year as a sophomore. Khalil, a rising senior, has been a standout for Penn as it has claimed its first two Potter Cups as the collegiate squash national champion in his first two seasons.
As a sophomore, Khalil became the first Quaker to claim the individual national championship (Pool Trophy) and the Potter Cup in the same season — and he did it while fasting for Ramadan. In addition to his career at Penn, Khalil is No. 52 in the squash world rankings. He holds a 42-16 record in noncollegiate events.
Khalil’s big win for Penn
Penn captured another national squash title even as three players fasted for Ramadan
Salman Khalil clinched the Potter Cup national team championship by beating Yale's Tad Carney. Khalil, Marwan Abdelsalam, and Omar Hafez of the Quakers were fasting during the final.
Makai Lemon
Age: 22
Makai Lemon, the Eagles’ first-round pick in 2026, hasn’t played a snap in the NFL yet. But with A.J. Brown gone, the rookie has big shoes to fill and a big opportunity in front of him. At Southern Cal, he averaged 14.6 yards per catch and racked up 1,156 receiving yards in 12 games in his final season. Lemon is known for his elite ball skills, despite being just 5-foot-11, on the smaller side for a receiver. He suffered an injury that sidelined him during minicamp and has been dealing with a hamstring injury during training camp. But when it’s time for him to take the field, Eagles fans will be “getting a dawg,” Lemon told the crowd on draft night.
“You drafted the guy that’s going to match the city’s intensity when it comes to pro football,” said Ray Fenton, Lemon’s former coach at Los Alamitos High School, located outside Los Angeles.
What Lemon brings
What the film says about Eagles first-round draft pick Makai Lemon
What does the newest Eagles wideout do well, and how does it fit in the new-look scheme?
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Isabeau Levito
Age: 19
Isabeau Levito became a household name this winter as one of the “Blade Angels,” the women’s figure skaters representing the U.S. at the Milan Cortina Olympics. She missed out on the podium, but she still got to bask in the experience of being an Olympian.
“It was just so cool with all these athletes from different sports all in one place,” Levito said. “It was very magical, and it was a dream come true.”
The South Jersey native also skated to a fourth-place finish at the 2026 World Championships in March. Levito has eight podium finishes at major events in her career, including silver at the 2024 World Championships and gold at the 2023 U.S. Championship. And she’s already started teasing her next routine.
What’s next for Isabeau?
South Jersey figure skater Isabeau Levito reached the peak this year with the Olympics. She wants more.
The Olympics were "very magical and a dream come true," Levito said. But she also wished she pushed herself more and is eager to get back to training and up her content for next season.
Porter Martone
Age: 19
Porter Martone, who got his start blasting holes in the wall of his parents’ basement before starring at Michigan State, made an immediate impact following his NHL debut, with 10 points in his nine regular-season games. After the Flyers’ season ended in the second round against Carolina, Martone joined Team Canada at World Championships and got ice time on the top line with Macklin Celebrini and Sidney Crosby, scoring one goal and four assists in 10 games.
“He wants to be out there when the game’s on the line,” coach Rick Tocchet said. “He’s unflappable.”
Martone’s origin story
Flyers rookie Porter Martone blasted holes in his parents’ basement before becoming an NHL phenom
The teenager has taken the NHL by storm in the playoffs. He honed his scoring touch growing up in Ontario, firing slap shots in the basement and beating "Jeff" the goalie in his backyard.
Matvei Michkov
Age: 21
Matvei Michkov’s sophomore NHL season was a bit turbulent, but the 21-year-old’s potential is sky-high, if his post-Olympic break stretch leading the team in points is any indication. At his best, the winger is a game-breaker and an elite talent the Flyers desperately need.
“He knows he needs to improve off the ice in his training — and that’s not a secret — he’s admitted that himself. … So, the big thing for Matvei is adapting," general manager Danny Brière said.
Coming to America
Matvei Michkov is 5,100 miles away from his home in Russia. But in Philly, ‘life has become easier.’
The 21-year-old's adjustment to North American culture, the English language, and the NHL is ongoing. But the Flyers winger is starting to feel more comfortable on and off the ice.
Quinyon Mitchell
Age: 25
Quinyon Mitchell is the oldest player on our list and the only one who has already turned 25 — he beat our cutoff date by about two weeks — but the Eagles cornerback is more than deserving. He won the Super Bowl and was runner-up for Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2024 and has just kept improving.
Mitchell was named first-team All-Pro in his second season and was ranked 47th on the NFL’s top 100 Players of 2026 by his peers, and there’s still room for him to grow. Mitchell’s lockdown coverage makes him a ball repellent. He was targeted just 85 times last year and gave up 36 catches for 451 yards and one touchdown. But in two NFL seasons, Mitchell still hasn’t picked off a pass in the regular season. He’s hoping to change that in 2026.
“I’ve been working with the staff on catching and eye placement and stuff like that, so I just need to get better,” Mitchell said.
Commentary from Marcus Hayes
Quinyon Mitchell looked like an All-Pro vs. the Lions. His Florida family and friends were there to see it.
The Eagles cornerback allowed zero catches against Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Jared Goff, and the highest-scoring offense in the NFC.
Andrew Painter
Age: 23
After years of anticipation, Andrew Painter got his first crack at the Phillies’ rotation this year, and it didn’t go as many hoped. The 23-year-old had a 7.06 ERA in 14 appearances, including 12 starts, before being demoted to triple A. His first game back in the majors showed promise. After giving up a double and a home run early, he settled in for six strong innings and only allowed one hit after that.
“When he’s done some things with his delivery, which is going more directly to the plate rather than spinning off, he’s had more life,” Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowskisaid.
His three starts since — including one that was cut short by hamstring tightness — have been trending in the wrong direction. But at his best, Painter still represents a ton of potential.
Commentary from David Murphy
Andrew Painter has reached his Roy Halladay moment. It is on him to seize it.
Failing is easy. The hard work is what comes next with his demotion to triple A. It's an endeavor upon which Painter must embark, much like Halladay did at his age.
Jordyn Palmer
Age: 17
Westtown School star Jordyn Palmer is a 6-foot-2 rising senior guard/forward who is No. 9 in her class, according to ESPN. Palmer, a three-time Gatorade Pennsylvania Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year, averaged 23.2 points, 13.2 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 3.3 steals, and 2.5 blocks as a junior, helping lead the Westtown School (28-2) to the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association championship game. She has 1,746 career points and 894 career rebounds.
She has offers from more than 20 colleges, including South Carolina and LSU. In June, she was named Miss Pennsylvania Basketball, awarded to the best female high school basketball player in the state, voted on by fans, coaches, and media.
Best is yet to come
Westtown’s Jordyn Palmer — a basketball phenom and highly sought-after recruit — has untapped potential
The 6-foot-2 junior, who is ranked No. 6 in the nation, has had constant attention on her since she was 14. She has taken her game to a new level, but the best of her talents has yet to be displayed.
Labaron Philon Jr.
Age: 20
Labaron Philon Jr. is one of a few professional players on this list who have yet to make their debut, but there are high hopes and plenty of hype surrounding the former Alabama point guard who fell to the Sixers as the 22nd overall pick in this summer’s draft.
Of course, the expectations have eased in recent weeks as the Sixers added Jaylen Brown and LeBron James. But the 20-year-old brings shooting (48.2% for the Crimson Tide in two seasons) and a spark off the bench behind Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. Philon’s Sixers career already got off to a good start at NBA Summer League, and he’s got a plan for his transition into the league.
“Having the same ‘dawg’ mentality that I had at Alabama and being the same person,” Philon said after his Sixers debut. “Being me, really.”
Philon’s ready for Philly
Labaron Philon Jr. is ready for his rookie season with ‘a lot at stake’ after Sixers added LeBron James, Jaylen Brown
"Being a rookie and being able to be around all those guys is a privilege for me," Philon said after the Sixers added James and Brown this offseason.
Lavar Scott
Age: 22
South Jersey’s Lavar Scott comes from a racing family, so it’s no surprise that he was able to climb the ranks of stock car racing to become one of three active Black drivers in NASCAR. In two full seasons in the ARCA Menards Series, Scott finished in the top five 22 times for Rev Racing, including four second place finishes.
He earned a full-time spot in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in 2026, making 22 starts in Alpha Prime Racing’s No. 45 Chevrolet. Scott has earned five top-20 finishes in 22 starts this season. Still looking for his first NASCAR win, Scott is chasing a feeling that he first learned racing go-karts at five years old.
“It’s a feeling that when I go to bed, I think about, [when I] wake up, [I] think about, [when I] sleep, [I am] thinking about. It’s just the feeling of standing on top of your car after a win and [celebrating] with your friends and family and knowing you did your job really well that day,” Scott said in June.
From South Jersey to NASCAR
South Jersey’s Lavar Scott, one of NASCAR’s three Black drivers, is chasing greatness and not looking back: ‘There was no Plan B’
Go behind the scenes at Pocono Raceway with 22-year-old South Jersey native Lavar Scott and the family that helped him become one of three active Black drivers in NASCAR.
Luigi Suigo
Age: 19
Standing at 7-foot-3, Italian-born center Luigi Suigo was the marquee addition for Kevin Willard this summer as he tries to lead Villanova back to the NCAA Tournament. Suigo, born in northern Italy, has played professionally in Europe since 2023. He averaged 7.9 points and 5.1 rebounds in 26 games during 2025-26 for KK Mega Basket of Serbia. Suigo entered the 2026 NBA draft and was projected as a late first-round, early second-round selection before he withdrew and decided to play college basketball at Villanova.
“He wants to make sure when he gets drafted, he’s going to play,” Willard said of Suigo in June. “The big thing is I think he needs to get Americanized a little bit, to American basketball. I think that’s why college will be really good for him.”
Even better for the Italian big man, Suigo will begin his college career with a game in Rome, where the Wildcats will play Notre Dame on Nov. 1.
From Italy to the Main Line
Big man Luigi Suigo has arrived at Villanova. His journey to the 2027 NBA draft is underway.
Suigo is expected to join the short list of Villanova players who are on campus for one season before being selected in the NBA draft. But his temporary stop at Villanova is a critical one.
Cavan Sullivan
Age: 16
Cavan Sullivan, the youngest professional on this list, has a chance to be the most internationally recognized real athlete to come from Philadelphia — apologies to Rocky. The attacking midfielder has a deal in place that will send him to English giant Manchester City once he turns 18, but for now, he’s tearing up the pitch for the Union. He netted his first MLS goal in May, and his role for the team has continued to grow.
“It’s a big year for me,” Sullivan said in January. “It’s exciting, but I’m not going to get ahead of myself. I know there’s still work to do and stuff to prove.”
Look out for Sullivan in stars and stripes, too. He’s still waiting on his first senior team call-up, but he’s received numerous call-ups to U.S. youth national teams and scored twice at the 2025 FIFA under-17 World Cup in Qatar.
A Philly soccer story
Why Cavan Sullivan, hyped as the world’s best 14-year-old soccer player, chose to turn pro with the Union
In a few years, Sullivan will play for English superpower Manchester City. But for now he has chosen to start with his hometown team. Here's the inside story of why he picked the Union.
Quinn Sullivan
Age: 22
While his younger brother has Europe’s attention, Quinn Sullivan has developed into an integral piece for his hometown club. Before an ACL tear ended his 2025 season, Sullivan scored three goals and logged eight assists in 31 appearances across all competitions as the Union claimed the MLS Supporters’ Shield.
Sullivan also has experience with the U.S. men’s national team and made one start during the 2025 Gold Cup.
Sullivan returned from his ACL injury in July 2026, and now that he’s fully healthy, he’s back in the Union’s starting lineup. Quinn isn’t making a move to Europe yet, but the Bridesburg native is happy to represent his hometown club for now.
“I’d love to be the face of this team,” Sullivan said in January. “I mean, I grew up supporting this team. I love this team; I love this city. I feel like I embody what Philadelphia means.”
Holding down the homefront
Quinn Sullivan ‘would love to be the face’ of the Union. When he returns from a torn ACL, he just might be.
Though the 21-year-old from Bridesburg likely won't be back on the field until July, he's in good spirits. He appreciates all the support he's gotten from fans, the Union, and the national team.
Gage Wood
Age: 22
Gage Wood, the Phillies’ first-round pick in 2025, made his first start at Citizens Bank Park in July — as part of the MLB All-Star Futures Game.
But the right-hander, who was promoted to double-A Reading earlier this season, is progressing quickly through the system. Wood’s elite fastball helped get him to No. 33 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 prospects, but there are questions about whether Wood is a starter or a reliever long-term.
“Obviously, I want to go back to the Bank as fast as I can,” Wood said. “I just keep working every day and try to get there as fast as possible.”
Patience paying off
Phillies prospect Gage Wood may have to take a longer road to the majors — and he’s OK with that
After the Phillies drafted the 22-year-old pitcher out of Arkansas, they plan to develop Wood as a starter. Fans caught a glimpse of the first-round pick in the Spring Breakout game on Saturday.
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That completes the first installment of The Inquirer’s 25 Under 25 athlete list. Naturally we couldn’t include every great athlete from the area, so be sure to check out our list of those who just missed the cut. We also have a list of the best under-25 athletes that are from the region but no longer play here. And, of course, we want to know who you think should’ve made the cut but didn’t, so email us at sports.daily@inquirer.com with anyone we might have missed.
Staff Contributors
Design and Development: Julia Duarte
Reporting: Gabriela Carroll, Owen Hewitt, Mia Messina
Editing: Matt Mullin
Illustration: Vivi John
List Curation: Inquirer Sports Editors
Digital Editing: Matt Mullin
Copy Editing: Maria McIlwain
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Since the 33-year-old cornerback was released from the Eagles in March 2025, Bradberry hasn’t played with another NFL team. Over the last couple of months, Bradberry posted on his Instagram account about taking part in golf charity events and hosting an event through the James Bradberry IV Foundation.
Now, he’s taking on a different football role.
On Wednesday, Camden Catholic High School announced that the former defensive back, who spent nine seasons in the league, will serve as an assistant football coach.
Bradberry played for three teams during his NFL career. He was drafted in the second round by the Panthers in 2016, joined the Giants in 2020, and spent three seasons with the Eagles, which included winning Super Bowl LIX.
He was a second-team All-Pro in 2022. However, he spent the entire 2024-25 season on injured reserve after suffering an Achilles tendon injury in August.
Bradberry didn’t express hard feelings after the Eagles released him. Instead, he said he was grateful for being part of it. Maybe that’s what led him back to the area.
“I’m glad I got to experience, one, I would say, the Philadelphia Eagles fan base,” Bradberry said after the Eagles won the Super Bowl in February 2025. “Greatest fan base in the world. I’m glad I got to experience the highs and the lows of being a part of the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Camden Catholic Fighting Irish are led by second-year coach John Martino and finished 2-9 last season.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The Eagles held the 13th practice of their 2026 training camp — and the first of two joint practices with the Patriots — on Wednesday at the New Balance Athletics Center. Here were my observations from Day 13 (and links to Days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12):
Roll call
The Eagles arrived in New England relatively healthy, especially their first units, and managed to exit the first day of scrimmages without any significant injuries. Receiver Dontayvion Wicks got dinged at one point, but he returned. Tackle Fred Johnson apparently got hurt and didn’t finish. But the Eagles did accomplish one of their goals on Day 1 and that was to avoid injury.
They were missing about a dozen players. Defensive tackle Byron Young (shoulder) was the latest to be sidelined. The following were also out: cornerback Jonathan Jones (shoulder), tight end Grant Calcaterra (back), wide receiver Johnny Wilson (knee), cornerback Jakorian Bennett (knee), tackle John Ojukwu (pectoral), running back Dameon Pierce (hamstring), and cornerback Shaun Wade (eye/shoulder).
DeVonta Smith (hamstring) was limited for a second straight practice. He didn’t participate in 11-on-11s or seven-on-sevens. The Eagles have been careful with their No. 1 receiver. Cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields (heel) and outside linebacker Keyshawn James-Newby (ankle) were also limited. The Eagles listed receiver Makai Lemon (hamstring) as limited, but he wasn’t in full uniform and did almost nothing.
A.J. Brown had a strong practice against his former team. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
A.J.’s big day
While the Eagles seem to have their top receiver in bubble wrap, new Patriots receiver A.J. Brown was full-go in facing his old team. Brown had a strong performance and, quite frankly, looked rejuvenated. The first competitive play of the session pitted the receiver vs. cornerback Quinyon Mitchell in one-on-ones. Brown ran a go route and had a half step of separation, but he couldn’t reel in Patriots quarterback Drake Maye’s pass. He joked afterward that Mitchell held him and it sure looked like Mitchell grabbed the back of Brown’s pants just before the ball arrived.
Nevertheless, Brown’s burst off the line was impressive. Maybe he hasn’t lost a step. I spent most of the day focused on the Eagles offense, but every time I looked over to the far field, Brown seemed to be hauling in another pass. He beat cornerback Riq Woolen on a deep crosser in team drills and later got behind him on a fade into the end zone. Social media replays seemed to indicate that Brown didn’t get both feet in. Still, he gave the Eagles secondary fits — as did the Pats pass offense apparently on many occasions — and he caught all three targets in seven-on-sevens.
Afterward, Brown mostly dodged questions about last season and why he wanted out of Philly. It’s understandable why he didn’t want to look back, but he avoided media obligations for the last month of the season. “It’s love. I won a Super Bowl ring with them. … I love Philly and I will always love Philly,” Brown said. When I asked him if he had spoken to Jalen Hurts since the trade, he said no. Would he catch up with his so-called friend later this week? “I’m sure if our paths run across,” Brown said.
Saquon Barkley and the running game had an impact on Wednesday. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Running it back
There is still a lot of uncertainly about the Eagles’ pass offense without Brown and if Sean Mannion’s new system can scheme open receivers consistently enough. And those questions remain after an inconsistent day through the air from Hurts and Co. The bigger issue may be how the Eagles handle blitzes and simulated pressures. But the run game came out firing and really set the tone in the first two periods.
Saquon Barkley ran inside and out on his first two carries and picked up modest gains. But he reached the second level on a rush up the middle, followed by a nice pickup off right tackle, and turned the corner into space on an outside zone run. Later on, Mannion added a few new wrinkles, once motioning Barkley into the backfield for a Hurts handoff from the shotgun. Center Cam Jurgens exploded into the second level and sealed off a lane for the running back.
It wasn’t just Barkley on the ground, and it wasn’t just the first unit that saw daylight. Tank Bigsby, who returned after missing one day with a toe injury, got north to south on back-to-back rushes. Will Shipley found a seam on a stretch run with the backups and then chugged through a huge hole opened by Jurgens and right guard Tyler Steen with the starters.
The Patriots’ run defense struggled last week in joint practices with the Colts according to some New England-area reporters I spoke to. On this day, New England was also without a few key pieces in defensive tackle Christian Barmore and linebacker Christian Elliss, who were limited to passing downs. But the Shanahan-style scheme needs early down run production to thrive and the Eagles had some positive signs of it in this outing.
Jalen Hurts hooked up with Elijah Moore and Hollywood Brown through the air, among others. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Explosive devices
The early ground success set up some play-action throws downfield, in particular a bomb from Hurts to receiver Elijah Moore on a corner route. The pass arrived just before the post safety arrived and Moore made the grab just short of the goal line. Earlier, Hurts hooked up with receiver Hollywood Brown on a naked bootleg off outside zone action — one of the core base plays of the Shanahan offense.
He went back to Brown on a short hitch. There was also a nicely set up screen to Barkley in which left guard Landon Dickerson kicked out to seal the perimeter and sprung the running back. And then Hurts found Shipley wide-open on a mesh-wheel concept. The quarterback was “hot” vs. an “A” gap blitz, but he got the ball off for a big play down the sideline.
Hurts tossed an interception in the team period, but his pass clanked off Wicks’ hands to Patriots and former Eagles safety Kevin Byard. In seven-on-sevens, a throw intended for receiver Britain Covey went directly to a Patriots defensive back who went the other way for a pick-six. There had to be a miscommunication there. Hurts had another turnover, though, when he sailed a middle-field pass on a crossing route.
Former Eagle Milton Williams (right, with Riq Woolen) was part of the action on Wednesday. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Rushing roulette
The Eagles’ starting offensive line all scored wins in their one-on-ones by my count. Right tackle Lane Johnson stoned Patriots edge Elijah Ponder. Steen anchored well against a Barmore bull rush. Jurgens was all over defensive tackle Cory Durden. Dickerson held on vs. former Eagles defensive tackle Milton Williams. Patriots edge Dre’Mont Jones was able to get left tackle Jordan Mailata on his heels, but not enough to affect the pocket.
Key reserves stood out, as well. Tackle Markel Bell blocked edge Jesse Luketa to the ground. Guard Drew Kendall used a strong initial punch to ward off defensive tackle Joshua Farmer. Center Willie Lampkin briefly lost his balance against nose tackle Isaiah Iton. But Lampkin rebounded and brawled to victories vs. defensive tackle Casey Rogers and Eric Gregory. Bell and Kendall also had later wins.
Tackles Myles Hinton and Cam Williams got overwhelmed, especially the former. The second-year projects still seem far off from being ready. Hinton got completely dusted by edge Bradyn Swinson. He did better against Quintayvious Hutchins. But he got beat by a Ponder outside speed rush and was run over by Gabe Jacas and nearly knocked over simulated quarterback Connor Barwin. Williams did fine vs. end Amari Gainer, but he held Jacas and got knocked to the turf by Swinson.
Jalyx Hunt (58) was solid for a defense that had its moments Wednesday. Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer
Full frontal
The Eagles’ defensive front had a solid showing in one-on-ones. Edges Jalyx Hunt and Nolan Smith Jr. were standouts. Tackles Morgan Moses and Marcus Bryant each lost to Smith — the first on outside speed. Hunt was able to get around tackle Dametrious Crownover, but Patriots tackle Will Campbell was able to lock him down. A.J. Epenesa and Arnold Ebiketie also had strong turns with their edge rushes.
Moro Ojomo had the most success of the Eagles’ interior starters. He beat guard Alijah Vera-Tucker in both of their matchups. Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis were kept in check by guard Mike Onwenu and center Jared Wilson. Ty Robinson continued his recent strong performances with two decisive wins over guard Mehki Butler. “He came to life,” Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said of Robinson, who had a sack in the preseason opener. “He’s been on life support since he’s been here.”
Colleague Jeff Neiburg reported that the Eagles’ defense kept the Patriots mostly contained on the ground in team drills. Hunt and linebacker Jihaad Campbell, who blitzed up the “A” gap, also recorded sacks. But this wasn’t the pure defensive domination we saw from Fangio’s unit vs. an overmatched Patriots offense two years ago here.
Cornerback Riq Woolen struggled at times against the Patriots on Wednesday. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Woolen worth
Woolen was having a decent camp, but with Smith sidelined for most of the summer, he hasn’t faced anyone in Brown’s class. He also struggled against some of the other Patriots receivers. When the full teams came together for the final two-minute period, Woolen got beat in a zone by Romeo Doubs, who dropped a perfect strike. A few plays later, Pats receiver Mack Hollins caught a slant inside the cornerback.
Woolen is known for his man-press cover skills. But he likely won’t be asked to do it as much in the Eagles defense. He has to learn to master Fangio’s match-zone coverages. He did get up on the line on third down during two-minute, but he jumped offside and the penalty resulted in a first down. After tight end Hunter Henry caught a pass ahead of cornerback Cooper DeJean, the Patriots rushed to kick a 45-ish yard field goal.
Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean with New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel before a joint practice on Wednesday. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Pressure packed
The Eagles’ run game fortunes turned during the third period. The Patriots adjusted to their stretch plays and Barkley and Shipley were met in the backfield. Hurts did gobble up some yards on a zone read keep with tight end E.J. Jenkins as his lead blocker. But Bigsby was run down from the backside on a carry. Someone then committed a false start. And Hurts was pressured into a throwaway on third down.
In two-minute, Hurts’ first pass was thrown slightly behind tight end Dallas Goedert. Byard sacked Hurts after blitzing from the slot. Barmore was somehow unblocked up the middle for another sack. Hurts made up some ground with a quick toss to receiver Darius Cooper. But there was another Eagles false start.
Hurts was then forced to take throws underneath to Wicks with the Patriots in prevent defense. And the Eagles never crossed midfield before time ran out.
Tanner McKee (16) and Andy Dalton (14) continued their pursuit of the QB2 job behind Jalen Hurts (1). David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Back in the high life
Andy Dalton was first up with the twos at quarterback, but Tanner McKee got a number of snaps. They each looked sharper than they did in Baltimore. Dalton had to throw the ball beyond tight end Eli Stowers when he was double-covered deep. McKee hit an open Danny Gray on an intermediate route, but the receiver dropped the ball. Jacas had a sack after he toasted Williams from the edge.
McKee bounced back, though, and found Shipley for a long gain on a busted coverage. Receiver Samori Toure found a soft spot in the zone and McKee eventually got the ball there.
Dalton had one of his best periods and completed all five of his attempts late in the workout. He hit receiver Quez Watkins on a quick out. Covey made a contested catch. Dalton found Toure alone downfield. He ripped a seed to Gray over the middle. And with the pocket collapsing on him, Dalton hooked up with Toure near the sideline.
Extra points
Rookie quarterback Cole Payton got one set. He threw behind Covey and tossed another interception that went to Patriots safety John Saunders Jr. Eagles coach Nick Sirianni rushed over to Payton and seemingly had unkind words to say. … Kicker Jake Elliott had missed only one kick that I counted during the first two weeks of camp. But he struggled away from home and missed 2 of 5 field goal attempts wide right. … Day 2 of joint practices resume Thursday. The Eagles will have a closed walkthrough on Friday ahead of Saturday night’s preseason game at the Patriots.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — A.J. Brown’s path from the New England Patriots’ facility to their practice field bisected the Eagles’, where his former teammates were beginning to warm up ahead of Wednesday’s joint practice.
As he jogged by those familiar faces, he beat his right hand over his heart, which was shrouded by his new-look No. 1 navy blue jersey.
“It was love, man,” Brown said after practice. “I know I’m on an opposing team right now, but I still felt some love.”
Brown may have felt some love, but he didn’t show the Eagles any mercy once practice began.
The 29-year-old receiver was back to his dominant self in the first of two joint practices of the week, hauling in all six of his targets from Patriots quarterback Drake Maye in the seven-on-seven and 11-on-11 team drill sessions.
Wednesday’s practice marked the first time Brown has faced the Eagles as a member of the Patriots, the team that acquired him on June 1 in exchange for a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder. It turned into somewhat of a reunion late during the two-hour practice. At one point when the starters were on the sideline, Brown spoke to members of the Eagles offensive line and Saquon Barkley.
Once the final horn sounded to conclude practice, Brown chatted with Quinyon Mitchell, Jordan Davis, and Darius Cooper. He spent time with Eagles receivers coach Aaron Moorehead, gave reserve quarterback Tanner McKee a hug, and fist-bumped Nick Sirianni.
But after practice, Brown acknowledged that he hasn’t spoken to Jalen Hurts since the trade, although both were photographed at DeVonta Smith’s wedding in the days following the deal. Brown also declined to explain the driving force behind his desire to change teams.
How did Brown leave things with Hurts before he left Philadelphia?
“Philly, man, y’all tough, man,” Brown said with a laugh. “Man, it’s love. Listen, listen. Honestly, guys, none of that stuff even matters. You all should want to report something positive. You know asking the question is going to turn negative. So let’s not get into that, and let’s keep everything positive. It’s love my way, and just move forward. That’s all.”
A.J. Brown was a media focus on Wednesday but he let his play do most of the talking. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Brown expressed that he was open to catching up with Hurts if he saw him this week.
“I’m sure if our paths run across, yeah, sure, yeah,” he said.
When Brown lined up on the field, though, he wasn’t doing much talking. Mitchell, who exchanged his fair share of trash talk with Brown in practice during their two seasons as teammates, said the receiver wasn’t in his ear between reps Wednesday.
“We just kept it businesslike, and just competing,” Mitchell said.
Brown handled his business during team drills, namely against starting outside cornerbacks Mitchell and Riq Woolen. But Mitchell got the better of Brown in wide receiver-defensive back one-on-ones to open practice.
The Pro Bowl receiver had a step on the All-Pro cornerback on a deep ball from Maye down the left sideline. Mitchell latched on to Brown’s towel that hung behind him from the top of his pants.
Mitchell pulled himself back into the play, and while Brown got his left hand on the ball, he couldn’t get his right hand around quick enough to make the catch. The ball bounced off Brown’s hand and fell incomplete. Brown asserted that Mitchell got away with holding, but he took accountability for the incompletion.
“That’s on me,” Brown said. “Attention to detail, catching the ball high, not letting it get low. So those are the little things. It was never about who I’m going against.”
Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown drops the football while defended by Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell on Wednesday. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Brown was sharper as practice progressed. On his first target in 11-on-11s, he motioned from the left side of the formation and inserted into the B gap on the right side. Brown ran a deep crosser over the middle back to the left side of the field, then caught a pass from Maye with Woolen trailing in his wake.
Later, Jihaad Campbell had a would-be sack of Maye on a blitz up the middle. But Maye still got the deep pass out to Brown on a fade, and the receiver made the back-shoulder grab with Woolen on his heels again.
“He gave me a good ball,” Brown said. “It was a quicker throw, and I just know I had to win at the line of scrimmage, and I was going against Tariq, and I know he’s very fast, and I know he was coming, so I just had to hold my line of scrimmage and just keep going vertical and fade at the last second.”
According to Mitchell, Brown didn’t look like the same player he had grown accustomed to competing against on the practice field the last two years. He asserted that Brown looked “better” and “faster.”
The last time Brown shared a field with the Eagles, he was suited up in midnight green for the wild-card game against the San Francisco 49ers on Jan. 11. He had three receptions on seven targets for 25 yards in the 23-19 loss.
It was an underwhelming performance to cap off a relatively underwhelming season, in which Brown finished with 1,003 receiving yards, his lowest total since 2021 with the Tennessee Titans.
When asked for his message to Eagles fans, particularly in the aftermath of that game, Brown acknowledged his shortcomings. He also expressed a desire to move on from the past.
“I love you, and I’m not looking in the past,” Brown said. “It’s a game. That game, no, I didn’t play my best, but I’m not going backwards.”
A.J. Brown looked “better” and “faster,” according to cornerback Quinyon Mitchell. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Instead, Brown said he is fixated on his opportunity in New England. He lauded Maye as an “incredible leader” who is making his job as a receiver easier with his arm talent and his vision. Brown also raved about Josh McDaniels, the Patriots’ offensive coordinator, as he excels at creating advantageous matchups for the receiver.
As he moves on with his new team, Brown said his love for Philly persists. Still, he didn’t view joint practice as an opportunity to get closure on his departure.
“No, it’s not about no closure or anything, man,” Brown said. “It’s love. I won a Super Bowl ring with them, and [it’ll] always be love, no matter how anyone feels. I love Philly, and I will always love Philly.
“But I’m here now, and that’s where my feet are, and that’s where I’m focused on.”
FOXBOROUGH, Mass.—Jalen Hurts refused to take the bait.
The Eagles quarterback was asked three questions about Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown, who was traded to New England in June, after the two teams practiced against each other on Wednesday. Hurts put on a master class in question deflection.
First, he was asked what it was like to share a practice field with Brown in different uniforms.
“I think it was a great day out here,” Hurts said. “I mean, I know he’s going out there and competing. Got a lot of love for him. I always have. Seems like it was a competitive practice.”
Next, a Patriots reporter asked what advice Hurts would give Patriots quarterback Drake Maye on how he can “get the most out of” Brown. With Hurts as his quarterback, Brown posted the two highest single-season receiving yard totals in Eagles history — 1,496 yards in 2022 and 1,456 in 2023. The pair won a Super Bowl together in 2024.
“I think Drake has had a lot of success already,” Hurts said. “So, I don’t know what my advice would be. I just think he needs to continue the progression that he’s on. I mean, he’s already accomplished so many great things in this short time and I expect more great things to come for him.”
Lastly, Hurts was asked if he had a chance to catch up with Brown, who spent four seasons in Philadelphia, like many of his teammates did on the sidelines Wednesday. He didn’t dance around it.
“No, I didn’t get to yet,” said Hurts.
It’s clear Hurts and Brown are holding back when speaking about one another. Brown was traded to New England in exchange for a 2028 first-round draft pick and a 2027 fifth-round draft pick on June 1. The deal came after months of Brown’s frustrations, reportedly due to his lack of targets, finally boiled over.
As Hurts spoke on the lower turf at the Patriots practice facility, Brown met with a large gaggle of Eagles and Patriots reporters on the main field less than 100 feet away.
New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown meets with the media after a joint practice with the Eagles at Gillette Stadium on Wednesday. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Brown said he hasn’t spoken with Hurts since the trade in early June, although both were in attendance at wide receiver DeVonta Smith’s wedding in the days following the deal. When pressed on the Hurts interactions, Brown scoffed at the line of questioning from Philadelphia reporters.
“Philly, man, y’all are tough,” Brown said with a laugh. “Man, it’s love. Listen, honestly guys, none of that stuff even matters. You all should want to report something positive. You know asking the question is going to turn negative. Let’s not get into that. Let’s keep everything positive.
We’ll see how the trade ages. As for Wednesday, it was Brown who got the best of his former team, catching all six targets during seven-on-seven drills Wednesday — including a deep shot down the sideline with Eagles newcomer Riq Woolen in coverage — and looking sharp against one of the top cornerback rooms in the NFL.
“Yeah, [Brown] looked a little better [than previous seasons],” said cornerback Quinyon Mitchell.
