This could be one of the most anticipated joint practices in NFL history, as the Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots will join for two days of workouts.
This is important for an obvious reason, but these two days of practice could be huge for the Eagles. They are coming off an ugly 24-7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in their preseason opener.
That performance adds pressure to make sure the Eagles make the most of these two days. Here's a look at everything Eagles fans need to know before the joint practices with New England.
Everything that needs to be known about Eagles-Patriots joint practices
A.J. Brown returns to face his old team
Of course, this is the main reason to monitor what's happening at the joint practice. The Eagles' former top wide receiver, A.J. Brown, is back for the first time since the trade in June. Philly moved Brown to the Patriots in exchange for a 2027 fifth-round pick and a 2028 first-round pick.
During his time with the Eagles, Brown went for over 5,000 yards, made two Pro Bowls, and was a second-team All-Pro selection three times. He was a big reason the Eagles made the Super Bowl twice in his four seasons in Philly, helping the team win it all in 2024.
Drama between Brown and the Eagles over the last two years has left him unhappy with his role on the offense and problems with quarterback Jalen Hurts. That's what led to the ugly but agreeable divorce between both sides.
This is the first time Brown will be seen in a Patriots uniform since the trade, which should make for an interesting two days. Everyone wants to see how Brown interacts with his old teammates and coaches, and whether he talks to Hurts and Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni.
There is another former Eagles player on the Patriots
Brown isn't the only one facing off against his old team. Patriots defensive tackle Milton Williams sees the Eagles for the first time since deciding to sign with New England last offseason.
Philly's former third-round pick spent the first four years of his NFL career with the Eagles, playing a massive role in helping the team win the Super Bowl two seasons ago. Williams had 132 tackles, 29 quarterback hits, 25 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, six pass deflections, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery in 67 games in Philly.
While Williams might feel some way about the Eagles not offering him a new contract last offseason, there isn't any major animosity between the two sides. It'll be great to see a much richer Williams on the opposite side.
Patriots injuries Eagles fans should monitor
New England had some key players who didn't practice on Monday, which could affect the joint practices. Here's a look at the guys who didn't participate in that practice for the Patriots:
CB Christian Gonzalez
LB Harold Landry III (PUP)
WR Kobe Prentice
ST Brendan Schooler (NFI)
LB Chad Muma
LB Xavier Holmes
C Ben Brown
WR Kyle Dixon
Eagles hope to see Christian Gonzalez on the practice field
Gonzalez is highly regarded as one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. The Eagles would love to see him on the opposite side for the Patriots, but he has been dealing with an ankle injury he suffered in training camp.
After the up-and-down performances of the Eagles' offense, facing off against Gonzalez will be a good test for not only Hurts but also for the wide receivers. It will be the first real test the starters have had against another team, so some reps against the best would be beneficial before the regular season next month.
A competitive advantage could be had for the Eagles
While the coaching staff might be different in New England, a lot of the players are still the same for the Patriots, which could be a good thing. That's because the Eagles might have extra intel on how to prepare against the defending AFC champions.
Eagles secondary coach Mike Pellegrino spent 10 years as an assistant coach for the Patriots before joining the Buffalo Bills' coaching staff last year. Pellegrino might be able to help the Eagles a bit with tips and tricks he learned before the practice.
Minor details to Eagles-Patriots joint practice
Read more: DeVonta Smith gave Eagles fans a reason to forget about preseason dumpster fire
They will be practicing against each other on August 19 and 20 for only two days. The Eagles will travel to Massachusetts to take part. New England will host the Eagles in a preseason showdown on August 22 at 7:00 pm EST, and the starters most likely won't play.
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