Eagles’ Practice Report: Smith Fine After Limping Through

PHILADELPHIA (973espn.com) - Rain forced the Eagles inside Monday for the first time this summer but the gloom could have been a lot worse.

Torrey Smith was limping throughout the session and seemed to grab his groin after catching a quick hitch but the veteran receiver insisted he was fine and was just a little sore from Sunday's open practice at Lincoln Financial Field.

"Just sore" Smith assured 973espn.com. "You'll see me tomorrow I'm sure I'll be fresh and I'll be fine. It's no big deal."

Nonetheless, it seemed strange to see Smith laboring through the session without being pulled but Frank Reich explained why.

"We are so focused on trying to get better," the offensive coordinator said. "If you're in that huddle, we assume you're ready to go."

As for the practice itself, the day's highlight proved to be the embattled Patrick Robinson jumping an out route by Smith and intercepting Carson Wentz for what would have been a pick-six. The veteran also nearly had another interception at the goal line in a two-minute period.

Backup linebacker and Villanova product Don Cherry also ended a two-minute drill by intercepting a Matt McGloin pass by dropping deftly into the passing lane.

Offensively, Nelson Agholor continued to be the story for some good and bad reasons. The third-year receiver continues to get open at will but also failed to track a perfectly thrown Wentz deep ball on a post pattern that should have been a TD but clanged off his shoulder pads.

After practice, Agholor was seen working on tracking the football using tennis balls.

Among those absent for the Eagles were DT Fletcher Cox, who was given a veteran's day, as well as RB Wendell Smallwood, WR Paul Turner (shoulder), WR Marcus Johnson (hamstring), QB Nick Foles (elbow), TE Anthony Denham, TE Adam Zaruba (concussion), OL Josh Andrews (right hand).

DAY 13 NOVACARE NOTES:

-Although he's largely been a forgotten man in a much-improved WR corps, Bryce Treggs has been quietly effective most days. Also, Shelton Gibson caught the football well for the second consecutive day.

-For the second straight day, Derek Barnett and Chris Long flipped sides on the defensive line. Jim Schwartz generally wants his ends to be able to play either side.

-Second-year DT Destiny Vaeao got Cox's reps with the first team.

-Chance Warmack got a lot of work with the starters at right guard for Brandon Brooks, who left early with an undisclosed injury.

-Both Joe Walker and Najee Goode got some first-team reps at LB.

-The Eagles showed the Big Nickel look with three safeties on the second team: Corey Graham, Terrence Brooks, and Jaylen Watkins.

-TE Zach Ertz dominated the middle of the field in 7-on-7 drills.

-John McMullen covers the Eagles and the NFL for 973espn.com. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen