No joint practices for Eagles this summer; Eagles hire Jerome Reid as head athletic trainer

Jerome Reid, who previously worked for the Titans, replaces Chris Peduzzi.

The Eagles, who are in the middle of mandatory minicamp this week, announced the hire of a new head trainer.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer

Published Jun. 13, 2018, 4:40 p.m. ET

The Eagles will keep practices to themselves this season, deciding against participating in joint practices during training camp.

The Miami Dolphins visited Philadelphia last summer, and the Eagles could have tried to pursue dates with the Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots, or Cleveland Browns – their first three preseason opponents. Coach Doug Pederson decided this was not the year to do it.

"I don't think it's an every-year thing," Pederson said. "I think last year it was great for us. It was a great change up for us to go against Miami. Sometimes it just doesn't work out. Teams are already booked. Teams are already full. Teams are doing other things. For us, it's just, 'Let's just get better as a team.' "

With Carson Wentz on the mend, look for the Eagles to make sure Wentz remains in a controlled environment during training-camp practices. They won't risk another player rolling underneath Wentz.

Eagles hire trainer

The Eagles hired Tennessee Titans assistant athletic trainer Jerome Reid as their head athletic trainer.

Reid replaces Chris Peduzzi, who left the organization after the Super Bowl. The Eagles also promoted Joe O'Pella to associate head athletic trainer.

Reid worked with the Titans for four seasons. Before then, he helped the Titans' staff as a trainer at Saint Thomas Hospital and was also the athletic trainer at Hampton (Va.) High School.

O'Pella is in his ninth year as a full-time trainer with the Eagles. He started as an intern in 2008 and was promoted to a staff member in 2010.

The training staff plays a significant role for the Eagles, and is especially important this offseason with so many key players returning from injuries. The injury list includes Carson Wentz, Darren Sproles, Jason Peters, Alshon Jeffery, Brandon Graham, Tim Jernigan, Jordan Hicks and Chris Maragos.

Extra points

Pederson said cornerback Sidney Jones' lower-body soreness is unrelated to the torn Achilles tendon that caused him to miss most of last season. … The Eagles placed linebacker Paul Worrilow on injured reserve. Worrilow, a veteran linebacker signed during the offseason, tore an ACL last month.