Philadelphia Eagles training camp: Day 1 primer

Training camp has finally arrived for the Eagles. After nearly seven full months that included reshaping the roster with free agency and the draft and then the offseason program, you will be treated to five consecutive months of football. (Can they make it six?)

Practice was to begin at 8:50 a.m. at the NovaCare Complex. The session is closed to the general public. It won't be a full-team workout because the Eagles practice with only rookies, quarterbacks, and selected veterans during the first three days. It will become busier Thursday when the rest of the team arrives. But here's what's happening on Day 1:

After practice finishes, Pederson will address reporters for the first time during training camp. There are no groundbreaking matters to discuss – as he told the team's website, linebacker Jordan Hicks could be limited at the start of camp because of a hand injury but will practice – but he will offer updates on personnel and lineup questions as the Eagles begin camp.

The most notable player any day of training camp is Wentz, but that's especially the case during practices without veterans. This will be a ramp-up period for Wentz (and the other quarterbacks), so don't read too much into how he looks on these first few days. He's not yet throwing to his top wide receivers, either. But if you want to see how rookie receiver Mack Hollins looks catching Wentz's passes, these first three days will be valuable. And he'll have a chance to show off mechanics that have been refined throughout the past seven months.

Before the rest of the team arrives, there will be considerable attention paid to the rookies. Barnett is the top rookie, and he'll get a lot of work in the coming days. Even though Barnett will line up as one of the top four ends throughout the summer, he'll get more time with defensive line coach Chris Wilson on Monday. Look for Barnett to excel in one-on-one drills. It'll be different when he's facing Jason Peters, but the Eagles don't have rookie linemen who are likely to present problems for Barnett this week.

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One question that comes up this week is why the Eagles choose to start training camp without the full team. The veterans are not allowed to begin practicing until Thursday – two weeks before the preseason opener – so Pederson couldn't have the full team if he wanted. But they are allowed QBs, rookies, and veterans coming off major injuries. Think of it like pitchers and catchers reporting for spring training. Chip Kelly used the three pre-camp days only one year, but not his second or third year because he did not think practice was as effective with fewer players. Andy Reid was more of a proponent of these pre-camp days – and therefore, Pederson likely is, too. I asked Pederson last summer why he likes these days. Here's what he said:

"The benefit, particularly for the quarterbacks, it gets them lathered up for three days going into camp. For us as coaches, the benefit is we're back into football mode. You're off for six weeks and your mind kind of gets away from football, and this really gives us as coaches a chance to kind of dive back into the X's and O's of it, and our minds and bodies are fresh when the vets report.

[Eagles Matthews, Hicks to be limited at training camp.]

"And then it's a chance to really focus one-on-one with the young players, give them another three days to learn the offense and to coach them specifically, because as you know, once the vets get here, their reps decrease just a little bit and they don't get as much time. So it's good from that standpoint."

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One player who won't be at practice is running back Ryan Mathews. He's excused from the team while recovering from neck surgery. For more on Mathews, here's Les Bowen's update on Mathews' status.

The Eagles made a few roster moves Sunday night, and their roster is now at 89 players. They will likely add a player this week.

Look for updates on philly.com from the first practice session, with insight from Pederson and the players.