Pederson Expects Malcolm Jenkins at Minicamp

PHILADELPHIA (973espn.com) — Malcolm Jenkins has been missing from voluntary work this spring but Eagles coach Doug Pederson expects his Pro Bowl safety to be in attendance next week when things turn mandatory for minicamp.

Jenkins, a team leader and ironman who typically never misses a practice never mind a game, has been working out on his own in an effort to re-work his contract, which has two years remaining but most of the guaranteed money gone.

Jenkins did show at Carson Wentz’s charity softball game at Citizens Bank Park Friday but again was not an on-field OTA practice when things ramped up again on at the NovaCare Complex on Monday.

“We’re still in that voluntary portion of the offseason and we’re focused on the guys that are here but I fully expect that everybody will be here next week," Pederson said before clarifying that was not a confirmation just essential an expectation from the head coach because the June 11-13 minicamp is mandatory.

"It’s the first mandatory portion of the offseason, so as a head coach, I would expect [the veterans] would all be here,” the coach said.

Others high-profiles absences to date date been starting offensive tackles Lane Johnson and Jason Peters as well as receiver Alshon Jeffery. Both Johnson and Jeffery were also at Wentz's softball game.

Jenkins would incur nominal fines if he did not show -- about $80,000 -- but the Eagles could and likely would waive that stipend when a deal is ultimately worked out.

Jenkins signed a four-year, $35 million extension with Philadelphia three years ago with $21M of that guaranteed. He is on the books for an $8.1M base salary in 2019 and a cap hit of nearly $11.4M. During that same time, the safety position as a whole has spiked from a salary perspective with lesser players like Landon Collins, Tyrann Mathieu, Lemarcus Joyner and Adrian Amos cashing in due to timing and circumstance.

At 31 with the dearth of guarantees moving forward that screams extension or, at the bare minimum, a tweak of his current contract for Jenkins even if it's only guaranteeing the majority of the remaining money on his deal and perhaps offering some incentives on top of that.

JUNE 3 OTA PRACTICE NOTES:

-Joe Douglas, who interviewed for the New York Jets GM job on Sunday, was at the NovaCare Complex and did walk out to watch practice.

- A number of college coaches took in practice today, including Penn State's James Franklin and most of his staff.

-With his former coaches looking on undrafted rookie offensive lineman Ryan Bayes got some work at left tackle for the first time as he continues to show up his versatility.

-Despite a report indicating that Miles Sanders would be back at practice this week the Eagles continue to be cautious when it comes to the second-round pick and his injured hamstring.

"I just want to be careful with him," coach Doug Pederson said before practice. "We're not playing for a while. He's engaged in meetings, He's engaged out at practice, watching, and a part of that, but right now I just want to be cautious."

-Nate Gerry was back working with the first-team at LB along with Kamu Grugier-Hill. Zach Brown was in his first work of the spring running with L.J. Fort on the second-team.

-Sidney Jones was back outside the numbers opposite Rasul Douglas and Avonte Maddox handled the slot work with the first team.

-Among those rehabbing and working out a separate field included cornerback Jalen Mills. and running back Corey Clement and receivers Mack Hollins and Carlton Agudosi. Pederson discussed Hollins' long road back from a groin/core injury before practice and the goal seems to be training camp.

-A lot of DeSean Jackson on offense today but the biggest home-run ball was broken up by Jeremiah McKinnon on a slight underthrow by Carson Wentz. Wentz and Jackson did hook up on a deep back-shoulder fade from the slot during 7-on-7s when D-Jax got the best of fellow speedster Avonte Maddox.

-Rookie LB T.J. Edwards snipped out a screen to Wendell Smallwood nicely when Halapoulivaati Vaitai, who continues to work with the first team at RG, failed o slide out quickly enough.

-Donnel Pumphrey season continued but Boston Scott got a shoutout from the head coach when talking about a potential Darren Sproles replacement.

-Rookie WR J.J. Arcega-Whiteside dropped a short slant when he heard some Vinny Curry footsteps.

-Jim Schwartz debuted an edge blitz from safety Godwin Igweibuke that would have gotten to Nate Sudfeld.

-Wentz found Marken Michel, the bother of Patriots star RB Sony Michel, for a big gain on a five-verticals route. Michel got the best of Rasul Douglas on the play.

-When asked for standouts during OTAs before practice Doug Pederson cited Nelson Agholor and Dallas Goedert on offense and Avonte Maddox, Sidney Jones and Rasul Douglas on defense. Agholor, by the way, missed practice today.

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