Practice? Eagles fans get their first look at the new-look Birds
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We're talking about practice, but Eagles fans are still excited.
Why it matters: Philly might be the only sports city in America where a public training camp practice is treated with the same intensity as a playoff game.
Driving the news: Fans get their only chance to watch the Eagles go head-to-head at Lincoln Financial Field during Tuesday's public practice.
- You can still score tickets to the practice, which starts at 6pm, but you should hurry. Last year's sold out.
Catch up quick: The Birds won the NFC East crown last year but were eliminated by San Francisco in the first round of the playoffs.
- They're two seasons removed from winning the franchise's second Super Bowl and traded their top receiver, A.J. Brown, to Super Bowl runner-up New England this offseason for draft picks.
Yes, but: Brown's frustrations with the offense bubble over last season and were a constant source of chatter.
- The former teammates appear to have buried the hatchet.
- There was no tension between them during the teams' joint practices last week — the only time they'll see each other this season since the Eagles and Patriots aren't scheduled to play.
Reality check: Cue the 2Pac track — it's a lot of big changes for the Birds this year.
- Jalen Hurts is learning a new playbook under first-year offensive coordinator Sean Mannion.
- And he's going to have to figure out who he can count on to become his security blanket.
- DeVonta Smith could face tougher matchups and more coverage tilted his way now that the Eagles have lost Brown, Hurts' go-to receiver.
Zoom in: The Birds will likely replace Brown's production by committee.
- New additions Makai Lemon and Dontayvion Wicks should get ample opportunities in Mannion's equal-opportunity offense, per ESPN.
The bottom line: It's just a tune-up before the Eagles' season opener against Washington.
- But this is Philly — if the Birds stink up the Linc, fans will let them know about it.