Eagles rookie camp notes: Jeremiah Trotter Jr. in No. 54, UDFAs sign, Quinyon Mitchell debuts

1. If you still own a Jeremiah Trotter No. 54 jersey, it’s back in style. The rookies debuted in uniform for the first time, giving the coaching staff the first chance to see the 2024 draft class and the players the chance to get their uniform numbers.

Jeremiah Trotter Jr. asked for his father’s No. 54, and the Eagles obliged.

“I’ve been wearing it my whole life and also wore it because my dad wore it when he was playing here,” Trotter Jr. said. “I was very happy that was available and they decided to give me that number. So going to wear it with pride and be the best player I can. …They didn’t necessarily ask, they just assumed what number I was going to ask for and they kind of put it on hold. And then I came in when we were asking for numbers, I asked if I could (wear) 5-4, and they said I could get it, definitely. So it worked out pretty well.”

Elsewhere on the number front, for those keeping track:

Quinyon Mitchell: 30
Cooper DeJean: 33
Jalyx Hunt: 58
Will Shipley: 39
Ainias Smith: 82
Trevor Keegan: 79
Johnny Wilson: 89
Dylan McMahon: 63

2. The Eagles formally signed seven undrafted rookies, six of which were previously reported:

OT Gottlieb Ayedze, 6-5, 308; No. 61
TE McCallen Castles, 6-5, 252; No. 43
OT Anim Dankwah, 6-8, 353: No. 75
DT Gabe Hall, 6-6, 291: No. 96
RB Kendall Milton, 6-1, 225: No. 36
S Andre Sam, 5-11, 191: No. 35
OT Laekin Vakalahi, 6-5, 318; No. 67

The new one in the group is Vakalahi, who has an international player exemption and will not count against the 90-man roster. Vakalahi comes to Philadelphia with a Jordan Mailata-esque story, according to ESPN Australia. He has never played American football and participated in a junior rugby league in Australia before going on a two-year mission. He spent the past month training at a performance center in Australia and the Eagles are taking a shot on a 21-year-old with that frame to go along with 35-inch arms and an 83-inch wingspan. 

3. The Eagles also placed Le’Raven Clark on injured reserve. Between Clark’s injury status and Vakalahi’s roster exemption, the Eagles have two open roster spots on the 90-man roster. They could fill it with players who are trying out for the team at the rookie minicamp. That includes a mix of undrafted players, former practice squad players, and also some veterans who arrive with recognizable names.

Veterans trying out

WR Jakeem Grant (9-year veteran)
WR John Ross (6-year veteran) 
DB Terrell Burgress (5-year veteran)
LB Shaq Quarterman (5-year veteran)

Rookies/first-year players

P Harry Mallinder 
QB Blake Stenstrom
DB Kanion Williams 
DB Shon Stephens 
DB Trevor Yeboah-Kodie 
DB Caleb Nelson 
DB Kenny Churchwell 
DB Tavion McCarthy 
DB Sheridan Jones
LB Shayne Simon 
DB Cedric Anderson
LB Jacob Roberts
LB Duben Okonwo
LB David Anenih (First year)
WR Gribben Hebert (First year)
WR Praise Olatoke
TE Malcolm Epps

Among those veterans, you might remember Ross as the 2017 No. 9 overall pick who set a combine record with a 4.22-second 40-yard dash. The Eagles had interest in him then and are giving him a chance to come back to the NFL after sitting out last season.

4. On the field, there was not much to form an evaluation — certainly not from reporters watching the warm-up periods, and not even the coaches during a session that is still introductory by nature. But it was nonetheless the first impression of Mitchell in an Eagles uniform. So how did it look? 

“We had limited reps today,” coach Nick Sirianni said after practice. “I got to see him go through drills. You saw the burst and quickness that we saw on tape of why we drafted him in the first round. Made a couple of nice plays on the ball today out there with some seven-on-seven speed. And so just excited to see him out there on the field and competing. Again, limited reps today, but you did see the quickness and the burst and the acceleration.”

5. The Eagles view Cooper DeJean as a cornerback, but the team is not squashing his versatility. In his first practice session, DeJean confirmed he played multiple spots. 

“I was working everywhere, just kind of moving around, getting a feel for things,” DeJean said.

This was DeJean’s first practice since fracturing his leg in November.

“It seems like it’s been long,” DeJean said “Especially after the injury, and having to go through rehab and the whole predraft process and you’re not really out there working football and playing with 10 other guys on the fields It’s good to be out there playing team football against an offense, get that look.”

6. Returning players were off this weekend, but A.J. Brown couldn’t resist watching. The star wide receiver was on the field during drills watching his new teammates and the players trying out for the team. He wasn’t the only high-profile player who came to watch. Jordan Mailata was in the building, too.

“What was really cool in my mind was that A.J. was out there today and that Jordan Mailata was out there today,” Sirianni said. “A.J. giving out coaching points. Jordan Mailata, I got in here this morning, he was in here for the team meeting and went to the O-line meeting this morning, just to be there with those guys. That’s special. That’s a connection that these guys are willing to put that time in to be around our rookies, see what they’re made of, and just be there for them. So I’m excited for these guys to all get immersed into the culture. It was cool to see our veterans do that today.”

7. The Eagles signed offensive tackle Mekhi Becton earlier this week, and there’s been speculation about whether the 2020 first-round pick would get an opportunity to compete for a starting spot at guard. He’s been a tackle throughout his career and might not have the skill set to cross-train, although the clearest path to playing time is at guard.

Sirianni said Friday Becton will be introduced to the team as a tackle, and the Eagles will go from there. It’s something to monitor with the 6-foot-7, 342-pound 25-year old with 30 career starts.