After a rough 2020 season that saw them end with a record of 4-11-1, the Philadelphia Eagles have a crucial training camp coming up if they want to have a successful season. When does it start, where will it be held, and are fans allowed to attend?
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With phase 3 of the 2021 NFL offseason set to wrap up on June 18th, teams are already looking forward to training camp. It is by far the most grueling and pivotal part of a team’s preparations.
Training camps often include busy days for players and coaches, sometimes with 2 practices a day, weight training, team meetings, and film sessions.
Per the league’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), no contact is permitted during the first 3 days of camp. Days 4 and 5 will see players at full speed in light equipment called “spiders and shells”, day 6 is a mandatory day off, and finally fully-padded practices start on the 7th day.
Along with the strenuous schedule, full-speed practices mean that both contact and non-contact injuries are very common. Regardless, training camp is mandatory for all players, unlike OTAs which are voluntary. If a player doesn’t show up, they risk getting cut by their team.
When Does Training Camp Start for the Philadelphia Eagles?
For the first time in NFL history, there will be a unified start for training camp. 29 franchises, including the Philadelphia Eagles, will kick off their training camps on Tuesday, July 27th.
But the Cowboys and Steelers, who will play in the preseason Hall of Fame game, are allowed to begin training camp as early as July 21st. The Buccaneers will also be allowed to start training camp 3 days earlier on the 24th, as they play the season opener against Dallas on a Thursday night.
The #Cowboys and #Steelers can report as early as July 21 because of the hall of fame game. The #Bucs can report July 24 because of a Thursday opener. Players from the other 29 teams are required to report July 27, per the CBA.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 25, 2021
Where is the Eagles Training Camp Being Held?
Normally, NFL teams are permitted to hold training camp at outside facilities to improve accessibility for fans, However last year, due to the uncertainty caused by the COVID pandemic, teams were instructed to conduct camp at their own training facilities.
The Eagles’ training camp will be held at their longtime indoor practice facility inside the NovaCare Complex.
Philadelphia Eagles Training Camp Roster: Key Position Battles to Watch
As usual, teams will start camp with 90-man rosters. They must cut down to 85 players by August 17th and to 80 by August 24th, before settling on a final 53-man roster by August 31st.
Who fills out Miles Sanders’s Back up role and the rest of the running back room should be interesting to see. 2018 Draftee Boston Scott has been a solid No.2 over the past 2 seasons. Scott rushed for 374 yards and 1 score.
But the Eagles added a bunch of people to the preliminary roster. They brought in fellow 2018 draftee Kerryon Johnson from Detroit, added Jordan Howard, and then drafted Kenneth Gainwell in the 5th round of this year’s draft. The Eagles will have five running backs battling it out for what looks like four spots.
Who protects QB Jalen Hurts blind side will also be in question. After giving up a league-leading 65 sacks, addressing the front line will be crucial.
It’s likely going to be a battle between two players for the starting job at left tackle: Jordan Mailata and Andre Dillard. Mailata played in 15 games and made 10 starts for Philadelphia last year. But Dillard could have the edge as he was the first-round pick for the Eagles in 2019. The only reason he didn’t play in 2020 was because he tore his biceps before the season.
However, The Athletic’s Bo Wulf recently noted that Mailata lined up with the starters early during recent OTA practices, so it appears he could be the favorite to secure the position.
Will Fans Be Allowed to Attend Eagles Training Camp?
The NFL is planning to have fans at all training camps, with fan events scheduled to start on July 31st. The NFL and the NFLPA continue to negotiate parameters for fan interactions.
Per the memo of the NFL and NFLPA’s agreement, “Fans will be permitted to attend Training Camp, provided that they are more than 20 feet away from Tier 1 staff, including players, at all times, and adhere to physical distancing requirements. Fans will not be permitted to interact with players at any time.”
The Eagles will host their first public practice of the 2021 season at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, August 8, 2021 at 7:00 pm, with a second public practice scheduled for Sunday, August 22 at the same time.
Also Read: New York Giants Training Camp 2021: Start Date, Location, Roster Battles, and Fan Policy
