Eagles training camp: Injury updates for fourth practice session

As we move through another day of Philadelphia Eagles training camp, the grind of piecing a great football team together continues. Every day is about improving and, of course, staying healthy.

The goal is to get to Week 1 of the NFL regular season with as many guys available as possible. There must be some balance though. There’s only one way to get better at football, and that’s by, well, playing football.

The Birds threw on the shoulder pads for the fourth practice. Head coach Nick Sirianni stated beforehand that full pads would be worn on Tuesday for the fifth, but the game plan is that there will be no tackling during camp.

Some see that as being too cautious. After all, even though most of our football careers ended in high school, we learned early that focusing too much on preventing injuries and ‘playing in fear’ so to speak only increases the likelihood of their occurrence. We can understand the theory though. Again, you want all hands on deck for the first game of the regular season versus the Lions in Detroit.

Here are a few injury updates following the Eagles’ fourth practice of training camp.

Say what you want about the plan, but it’s been successful in its execution for the most part. Most of the absences at practice so far have been COVID-related. Jason Kelce and Fletcher Cox were unavailable and given some time to improve from some of their symptoms early. They’re back now and practicing.

Wide receiver Keric Wheatfall is still in COVID progression. His health is improving, but even though he’s been allowed to be on the field with his teammates, his reps are being limited. Fellow wideout Zach Pascal sat out of another practice on Monday. He’s been recovering from food poisoning. Then, there’s second-year defensive tackle Milton Williams and undrafted rookie Grant Calcaterra.

The former is dealing with an elbow injury. That didn’t keep him out of practice on Monday despite missing the Saturday session, but he was limited. The latter wasn’t as fortunate.

After a bad fall during the Saturday practice session, Calcaterra made his way into the medical tent and, eventually, indoors. He was held out of the Monday session. The diagnosis is a hamstring issue.

Head coach Nick Sirianni stated the Birds will monitor his progression and bring him along slowly. Fingers are crossed that he’s back sooner rather than later. He had a good week of camp prior to the injury.

Dallas Goedert will need help at the tight end position, and now that Calcaterra’s issues with concussions appear to be behind him (at one point, collegiately, they forced him to retire). If he’s healthy, he could challenge for a roster spot and be of great benefit to the Eagles’ offense in year one.