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Eagles will face Maxwell, Alonso in joint practices with Miami Dolphins

Byron Maxwell and Kiko Alonso return to NovaCare this week. Less heralded is reserve guard Dallas Thomas' encounter with the team that drafted him in the third round four years ago, then cut him in 2016.

One of Kiko Alonso few fond memories in Philadelphia came when he flexed after tackling LeSean McCoy in December 2015. He will be back in Philadelphia for a joint practice with the Dolphins this week.
One of Kiko Alonso few fond memories in Philadelphia came when he flexed after tackling LeSean McCoy in December 2015. He will be back in Philadelphia for a joint practice with the Dolphins this week.Read moreCLEM MURRAY / File Photograph

When Miami shows up at NovaCare for two days of practice with the Eagles Monday in advance of Thursday's preseason game, lots of attention will be devoted to former Eagles Byron Maxwell and Kiko Alonso, who were major players in the disastrous 2015 season that got Chip Kelly fired, then were traded in the first of two moves that allowed the Eagles to select Carson Wentz in the 2016 draft.

If you discount specialists — 37-year-old punter Donnie Jones last played for Miami in 2006, kicker Caleb Sturgis was there in 2013 and 2014 — there is only one former Dolphins position player on the Eagles, and it's unlikely he'll be much of a discussion point. Reserve guard Dallas Thomas was a third-round Miami draft pick in 2013 who was released last October, after 37 games and 26 starts.

[Eagles' Sunday practice observations]

"It's going to be good to see my old friends, but I still live down there, too, so it's not like I don't see them," Thomas said Sunday.

Thomas said he likes joint practices "kind of to spice things up a little bit, keep you on edge."

Wide receiver Torrey Smith said he was looking forward to working on moves against corners he doesn't work against every day.

"Ultimately it just elevates the competition for everybody. It's not one of those things where you go into it like, 'We're going to fight 'em!' You go into it like, 'We're going to get better, we're all professional,' and I think we'll get a lot out of it," Smith said.

Smith would like to actually catch a pass from Wentz in a game this week, something that didn't happen against Green Bay or Buffalo.

[Wendell Smallwood yearns to come up big]

"I haven't been targeted at all, but my preseason's gone well. I've made some big plays. In Mack's [Hollins] touchdown [at Green Bay], I remember drawing through and blocking a safety," Smith said. "I'm doing things that don't necessarily show up, but when I get my chance, I'll be ready.

"It all takes care of itself. [The starters] haven't played much at all, so, for me it's just about executing, eliminating mistakes, and trying to be as fresh as possible. I have like, 10 catches my entire preseason [career] in six years. I don't worry about getting the ball."