The Eagles wrapped up their last full practice Monday before their preseason opener, which is Thursday (7 p.m./CSN) at home against the Buccaneers. The game will be the first opportunity for the rookies to play in the NFL, another big milestone in their football careers.
Here's an outlook for five of the key first-year players:
QB Carson Wentz
The anticipation for Wentz is huge, obviously. Head coach Doug Pederson still has Wentz locked in as the No. 3 quarterback, but Wentz is expected to play a majority of the second half of the game.
Either way, it seems like his mindset is to just keep it cool.
“I don’t get real nervous with this game,” he said after practice Monday. “It’s just a game, I don’t sweat too much about it. I just go out and have fun with it. If anything it’ll just calm down the excitement, but once that first snap goes I’ll be ready to play.”
Wentz said the biggest difference between practice and this first game is he won’t be wearing a red jersey, so he can finally get hit. As for that first hit, he’s looking forward to it.
“I’m kind of ready just to get hit,” he said. “We’ve been out here in practice, guys running by us, tagging us off, this, that, trying to react. And then finally we can go out there and play real football, real ball. It’ll be exciting.”
NFL
OG Isaac Seumalo
The Eagles finally decided to make an investment in the offensive line when they picked Seumalo in the third round. He’s been getting reps with the second team so far and has experience at both center and guard.
He said he’s more anxious than anything but is ready to finally hit someone on another team. Maybe most of all, though, is the pride that comes with playing.
“A big thing too is the name I carry on my back is huge,” he said. “My aunt and my family will be watching, and I just want to make them proud, too.”
OT Halapoulivaati Vaitai
Vaitai was the second of the Eagles’ two fifth-round picks this year. While it’s not likely Vaitai will be immediately challenging for a starting spot, he should provide solid depth and has a real solid chance of making the roster.
He said the Eagles’ offense is a lot different than what he was used to at TCU with its spread offense, but his transition has been helped by linemate Lane Johnson.
“I’m nervous and excited,” Vaitai said. “It’s like me being a freshman all over again, playing my first game as a D-I player, and now I’m here. I’m living my dreams, so I’m excited.”
CB Jalen Mills
Mills is definitely challenging for playing time at cornerback despite being a seventh-round pick. Thursday’s game should give a better indication of where he stands on the depth chart.
Mills knows a thing or two about playing in front of a big crowd for his first game. His first game at LSU was in front of over 90,000 people. Mills credited Eric Reid, his former LSU teammate and current 49ers cornerback, with giving him advice on how to handle the pressure.
“Any time you feel yourself getting too emotionally high or you feel yourself get fatigued by just all of the energy and everything going around, just take a breath in, breathe, count to three, and line up on the next play," Mills said. "Just that little three seconds of meditation, it calms your body down and gets you back in that mindset of what you know you have to do.”
S Blake Countess
Countess should have a solid chance of making the team as a backup safety, with the No. 3 and 4 spots in the position group still open for competition. He could also end up on the practice squad, but Countess and Ed Reynolds should have a good battle to see who can make the team.
“This is what you dream of as a little kid,” Countess said. “When you start playing ball, you always want to get to this point. And now that it’s here, it’s definitely going to be something to remember.”