Lesser-mentioned Eagles are among top playmakers at another open OTA practice

Okay, before we go any further, let's cover the bases. May is ending, and we're entering June. Everyone at the Philadelphia Eagles OTA practice is wearing shorts. There are no pads, and the highlight of the day's activities are 7-on-7 drills, but contact is impermissible.

You have to forgive us though. We're pumped about just about everything we're hearing and seeing. The Birds are back and working. Seriously, why wouldn't we be charged up about this?

Four of the top highlights of the second Eagles OTA practice open to the media come from guys we don't spend much time discussing.

Zack Baun... Isaiah Rodgers... Mekhi Garner... Shon Stephens... All three made huge plays at May 30's OTA sessions. Get used to saying those names. All got their hands on the ball and hauled in an interception during this Thursday afternoon session.

Just in case you missed the announcement, several veterans elected to sit this one out.

Again, it's early, but guys are taking advantage of their opportunities and are doing their best to make an impression. Here are four highlight-reel defensive plays that spilled over into social media discussions.

Zack Baun

Raise your hand if you're also hearing Zack Baun's name constantly. It's early, but he seems to be ahead of Nakobe Dean on the depth chart. As part of the first-team defense on May 30, he picked off a Jalen Hurts pass following a deflection.

Isaiah Rodgers

Welp! Make that another interception. Isaiah Rodgers went full-scale pick-six on Jalen Hurts. Here's the best part. Most who saw it will lament it was a great play by Mr. Rodgers even though we may be stretching here by referring to him as someone who is 'lesser-mentioned'.

Mekhi Garner

He's listed on the roster as a cornerback, but don't rule out the possibility of Mekhi Garner making the Eagles roster as a reserve safety. Again, this is a non-contact 7-on-7 drill we're discussing, but interceptions on deep passes are always fun.

Here Garner picked one on an underthrown ball to John Ross that he took off the arm of Kenny Pickett (Philly's new QB2 has had some nice moments though).

Shon Stephens

Much has to happen for Shon Stephens to climb the ladder and make the roster. He can't worry about that though. The only thing he can control is making the most of his opportunities, and he is doing that.

While working with the third team, he picked off a pass from Tanner McKee to end practice. This came after Tanner hit EJ Jenkins for a nice play over the middle.

Often, it's that last statement we remember most, and while Stephens' effort won't be talked about as often as what we have seen from Rodgers, it's plays like this that can be used as momentum for the future. Let's hope that's what we see from a youngster who hauled in 16 interceptions during his final run at the collegiate level.

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