Tempers Flare as End of Camp Approaches

PHILADELPHIA (973espn.com) — The Eagles scaled things back on Monday with a light 10/10/10 practice but the memo never reached the team's last two first-round picks.

Derek Barnett, Philadelphia's 2017 first-round pick who just returned to team drills over the weekend after offseason shoulder surgery, and Andre Dillard, the team's top selection in April's draft, were a little too competitive throughout the session before a scuffle broke out.

Ultimately a big pile of players gathered around although it looked like no real punches were thrown.

“We’ve been pushing and pulling on each other for weeks now." Malcolm Jenkins said. "It was bound to happen."

Earlier in the practice, Dillard got into it with Johnathan Cyprien, after steamrolling the veteran safety.

Both Doug Pederson and Howie Roseman spoke to a visibly emotional Dillard after practice, who declined comment. Barnett and Dillard did shake hands but 14 sessions in, it's clear that fuses are getting shorter and there tends to be a mental hump for all rookie players.

On the field, Dillard has largely been a standout in camp, especially as a pass protector while handling second-team LT duties and also filling in for the first team when Jason Peters is scaled back.

"That's football man," Peters said when asked about the dustup. "You're going to have days like that. ... You're gonna fight your brother some days and love them some days.

Safety Rodney McLeod and center Jason Kelce were given what was called veterans days but the former was coming off a scare late in practice on Sunday when J.J. Arcega-Whiteside rolled up on his legs while Kelce was on the field but wearing a wrap on his right leg.

McLeod said he was fine and planned to practice on Tuesday, technically the last session of training camp.

On the field, the cornerback rotation on the left side continues with Sidney Jones back handling outside work and Avonte Maddox in the slot, a consistent theme throughout camp.

Jim Schwartz is also looking at many different nickel linebacker groups with Nate Gerry and Zach Brown starting out with the ones and L.J. Fort and Paul Worrilow with the second-team. Other duos getting reps were T.J. Edwards and Alex Singleton, Gerry with Fort, and Singleton with Fort.

Worrilow, who is attempting to come back from a torn ACL, got plenty of work with the defensive goal-line package "23B," which is essentially the jumbo package with six defensive linemen. The look has Brandon Graham, Vinny Curry, Treyvon Hester, Malik Jackson, Kevin Wilkins and Derek Barnett up front with Worrilow, Brown and Gerry at LB and Malcolm Jenkins and Andrew Sendejo at safety.

NEWS AND NOTES:

-Along with McLeod and Kelce others not practicing today were Nate Sudfeld (broken wrist), Richard Rodgers (foot), Dallas Goedert (calf) , Lane Johnson (knee), Hassan Ridgeway (concussion), Daeshon Hall (shoulder), Fletcher Cox (foot), Kamu Grugier-Hill (knee), Cre’Von LeBlanc (foot), Blake Countess (hamstring) and Jalen Mille (PUP/Foot). Rodgers and Hall were working on a separate field so they are probably the closest to returning.

-World cup champion Julie Ertz was at practice for a second consecutive day supporting her husband while Hugh Douglas also paid a visit to the NovaCare Complex.

-While 10/10/10 practices are not competitive like normal practices and more designed to give each unit specific looks to work against some of the highlights were Singleton intercepting a flushing Cody Kessler on a tackle eligible play using center Keegan Render as a receiver, Carson Wentz hitting DeSean Jackson in the soft spot between the corner (John Hawkins) and safety (Tre Sulivan) in cover-two, and Alex Ellis snaring a touchdown pass from Carson Wentz.

-Brandon Brooks, still rehabbing an Achilles' tear from the divisional round playoff loss in New Orleans, is hoping to be cleared for practice after a scheduled doctor visit on Wednesday.

-Graham and Jenkins are amazing practice players racing each other to the start of goal-line work, far ahead of many of the younger players.

-Offensive coordinator Mike Groh took a moment after practice to pay his respects to Steelers receivers coach Daryl Drake, who passed away on Sunday.

"Daryl was a friend of mine," Groh said. "Obviously we are all very sad and want to wish the very best and our deepest condolences to his family and friends."

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