Eagles practice observations: Gardner still at RG; Alonso/Kendricks limited; Wolff out of time?

The Eagles held their 12th open practice of training camp on Tuesday. Here are some highlights and observations:

1. Andrew Gardner was the first-team right guard again. He started there in four practices before Sunday's preseason opener – two more times than any other offensive lineman – and then against the Colts. But after the game, Chip Kelly said that Gardner hadn't separated himself from the competition. It's still early in camp, and the Eagles coach likely wants to keep Matt Tobin, John Moffitt and Julian Vandervelde motivated, but I think it's safe to say the job is Gardner's now to lose. He played only 11 snaps vs. the Colts and didn't make any glaring mistakes. Tobin was at left tackle with the second team. He's virtually assured a roster spot, but he has some ground to cover if he wants to supplant Gardner. Moffitt struggled against the Colts. It was his first live action in nearly two years. He has to improve if he wants to make the team.

2. Kiko Alonso cleared the concussion protocol and returned to practice two weeks after he suffered his head injury. Mychal Kendricks also returned after missing the last week or so with an unspecified injury. Practice was light and players wore shells instead of full pads. Alonso and Kendricks participated in individual drills, but didn't appear to participate in either 7-on-7 or team drills. Kelly said he was easing Alonso back into the flow of practice. Alonso told reporters after practice that he wasn't sure if he would play in Saturday's game against the Ravens. DeMeco Ryans was still out. Kelly said he would return on Wednesday for the first day of intersquad practices with Baltimore. Ryans hasn't specified his injury either, calling his missing practices as "maintenance" days. There was a lot written this offseason about how the rotation would look at inside linebacker with three starting-caliber players. We have yet to get any clear picture.

3. The quarterback rotation remained essentially the same. During the first set of 7-on-7s, Sam Bradford was up first, followed by Mark Sanchez, then Matt Barkley and, finally Tim Tebow. Sanchez took some first-team snaps at various points. The Eagles worked a lot on the red zone. Bradford looked good. He rolled to his right on one play, bought time, and squeezed a pass to WR Josh Huff in the back of the end zone. Bradford threw a tinge high to WR Riley Cooper later, and the ball sailed off the receiver's hands. It would have been a tough catch, but one Cooper will need to make during the season. Bradford later zipped a bull's eye through a tight window to Cooper. Sanchez hooked up with TE Trey Burton for a "touchdown."

4. Barkley went to Eric Tomlinson, but the ball bounced off him and into the hands of LB Bryan Braman for an interception. Tomlinson has emerged as the best of the three undrafted rookie tight ends the Eagles brought in. He had five catches for 61 yards against the Colts. The team could keep four tight ends as it did last season, but Tomlinson has to prove he's a valuable contributor on special teams. Tebow hooked up with various receivers on underneath routes, but a fade to WR Rasheed Bailey in the corner of the end zone was overthrown.

5. Eric Rowe was the first-team slot cornerback. He seems more comfortable inside with each passing practice. Bill Davis has other options for that spot and could move one of his secondary starters inside, but I'm starting to like Rowe over the other cornerbacks (Jaylen Watkins, E.J. Biggers, Denzel Rice) who have had a chance there. … Aside from Ryans and TE Zach Ertz (groin surgery), S Earl Wolff didn't practice. He said his knee is bothering him again. Kelly said Wolff said the knee is keeping him from running. The knee (or fill in the blank) is also keeping Wolff from possibly making the team. He has only two weeks remaining to make his case before first cuts. … RB DeMarco Murray practiced at what looked like full speed.