With a small handful of wide receivers slowed by injuries, Eagles second-round pick Jordan Matthews has stepped to the forefront at training camp.

No pass catcher has shown more improvement here than the 6-3, 209-pound product of Vanderbilt who set SEC receiving record after SEC receiving record.  

"I like his size, his hands and the way he finishes," Eagles great Mike Quick, one of the top receivers in franchise history said. "He works like he’s the last one on the list. And I like that."

Eagles offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur echoed Quick.

"Every little kind of hurdle we’ve given him as he prepares himself for the season he’s done a great job of jumping over," Shurmur said. "And he just continues to get better and better every day. Just like all our players, we have high expectations for him."

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NFLN analyst Michael Irvin at work.

... Sights and sounds from Eagles training camp, including Michael Irvin, Michael Bamiro, Lito Sheppard, Keelan Johnson and the running backs showing off in a drill ...

Keelan Johnson back to work after arrest.

Michael Bamiro.

Lito Sheppard.

Former Eagles cornerback Lito Sheppard, a two-time Pro Bowl defender, is mentor defensive backs on press coverage.

Lito Sheppard with Eagles CB Bradley Fletcher.

Sheppard is attending Eagles training camp as part of the Bill Walsh Minority Intern program. Assistant coach Tra Thomas, a Pro Bowl offensive tackle in his days with the team, also was in the program.

“Just getting to know Lito and knowing what a career he had here as an Eagle and getting a chance to get him back here, he can help impart some wisdom on some of our young corners and young safeties in terms of how he saw things,” Kelly said. “I think it’s a positive impact on all of us.”

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Eagles fans attending the open practice Monday at Lincoln Financial Field (12:15 p.m.) get a taste of audiovisual boards team president Don Smolenski compares to 3D.

NovaCareTrainingCamp.

"We’ll have some things running but it’s going to be pretty dialed back," Smolenski said. "You’ll still be able to see how bright they are and how clear they are. When it all comes together it almost feels a bit like 3D it’s so clear. The clarity and the resolution of the boards of the video part. You almost want to just reach out and just touch it. It’s just really clear."

Additionally fans get a look at the seating changes.

"Hopefully what they feel and see is a more intimate building with the two corners closed in with the additional seats to help really bring fans in a full circle around the team," Smolenski said. "And then the audiovisual in particular, the HD video boards and the LED video boards just sort of add this dynamic component to it that I think will be able to immerse them and engage them even more into the game once we start playing on the 21st."

Parking is free Monday and the lots open at 9 a.m.

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LeSean McCoy asks the question as he works his way through the line signing autographs along with Eagles teammate Nick Coles at the conclusion of the first day of training camp.

The practice was closed to the general public but pacts of season ticket holders were admitted.

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Eagles head coach Chip Kelly said veteran Allen Barbre would get the first shot at filling in for right offensive tackle Lane Johnson, suspended four games for using PEDs.

Barbre would have been a factor in competition for a job suspension

The NovaCare Complex.

or no suspension.

"If Lane wasn't out, he'd be pushing all those guys," Kelly said at his first news conference at training camp.

The Eagles signed Barbre to a three-year $4.35 million contract extension in June.

Kelly said the pact had nothing to do with the status of Johnson, who was told of the suspension in May. Johnson said he alerted the Eagles to fortify the position after getting a letter from the NFL.

Speaking of Johnson, he's practically fallen off the map in the team drills. Johnson is running alongside guys who could have a tough time making the team. He basically will miss the month of September.

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The Eagles are slated to hold one of three practices open to the public at Franklin Field.

That session is on Friday, July 25. Tickets to that event are free and available starting Wednesday, July 16 at 10 a.m.  by logging onto PennAthletics.com/Eagles. The limit is six per order. Call 215-898-6151 for more information. Or try emailingtickets@pobox.upenn.edu.

Lincoln Financial Field

The open practices at Lincoln Financial Field are Monday, July 28 and Sunday, Aug. 3. Admission is free and tickets aren't necessary.

Training camp begins at the NovaCare Comple Friday, July 25. The Eagles will practice with the Patriots in Foxboro for three days leading up to their Aug. 15 preseason game. Last year the Patriots worked with the Eagles at the NovaCare Complex the week of their exhibition game. 

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Chip Kelly put a date on the start of Eagles training camp.

Kelly said he wouldn't see his players for 35 days. That would take them to July 25, a Friday.

“I think the important thing for them is it's not getaway day," Kelly said Thursday before the final minicamp practice. "We have another day to improve and get out there and get better as a football team, and I think that's their approach right now. They've had a good session so far this morning and we'll go out and wrap it up. I think the real message is it isn't getaway day. It's let’s finish up strong, it's our last opportunity to get some real good quality work in before we come back here on the 25th, and I think they feel the same way."

After a respite, the coaches will get back to work. The same with the players albeit on an individual basis.

"I don't look at this as any break from what we've just done," Kelly said. "This is our life's choice and we enjoy it. This isn't like Fred Flintstone and 'yabba-dabba-do' and we're trying to get out of work. It's another day. And we'll finish with some different things before we get some time off. I don't think anybody in our situation as coaches is like `I can't wait to get out of there.' Most are like `I can't wait to get back in there.' "

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Veteran linebacker Jamar Chaney won't let his sore left hamstring interrupt his quest to be in the starting lineup this season.

Chaney vowed Friday to be on the field when the Eagles play their first preseason game next week.

The heat has been brutal at Lehigh U.  And it's getting worse this weekend.

“I had a little bit of a setback coming out here hurting my hamstring," Chaney said after sitting out the walkthrough. "But I just have to do what I’ve been doing. My main goal was to make it hard for the coaches not to keep me on the field. And I don’t plan on missing that first preseason game so I don’t plan on being out too long.”

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'1, 2, 3...4, 5, 6...'

One of the more interesting observations with respect to Eagles quarterback Michael Vick is his unconventional style.

Demetress Bell, the new left offensive tackle, made it clear Monday that Vick is anything but your classic pocket quarterback.

"You’ve just got to go block for five or six seconds and know that he’s going to get it out," Bell said. "You just can’t drop back for three seconds and expect it to be gone.”

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Sunday, July 22, 5 p.m. (Andy Reid) (rookies and selected vets report to camp)

Monday, July 23, 8:45 a.m. (walkthrough) (offensive coaches) and 3:30 p.m.

Tuesday, July 24, 8:45 a.m. (walkthrough) (defensive coaches) and 3:30 p.m.

Wednesday, July 25, 8:45 a.m. (Andy Reid) (remaining veterans report to camp)

Thursday, July 26, 3 p.m. (10/10/10) (closed to fans)

Friday, July 27, 8:15 a.m. (walkthrough) (Andy Reid) and 2:45 p.m. (autographs DL)

Saturday, July 28, 8:15 a.m. (walkthrough) (Juan Castillo) and 2:45 p.m. (autographs OL)

Sunday, July 29, 8:15 a.m. (walkthrough) (Andy Reid) and 2:45 p.m (autographs DB)

Monday, July 30, 8:15 am (walkthrough) (Marty Mornhinweg) and 2:45 p.m. (autographs WR)

Tuesday, July 31, Players day off; no scheduled media availability

Wednesday, Aug. 1, 8:15 a.m. (walkthrough) (Andy Reid) and 2:45 p.m.  (military day)

Thursday, Aug. 2, 8:15 a.m. (walkthrough) (Bobby April) and 2:45 p.m. (autographs QB, TE, specialists)

Friday, Aug. 3, 8:15 a.m. (walkthrough) (Andy Reid) and 2:45 p.m. (autographs RB, LB)

Saturday, Aug. 4, 8:15 a.m  (walkthrough) (Juan Castillo) and 2:45 p.m. (autographs DL)

Sunday, Aug. 5, 8:15 a.m. (walkthrough) (Andy Reid) and 2:45 p.m. (autographs OL)

Monday, Aug. 6, 8:15 a.m. (walkthrough) (Marty Mornhinweg) and 2:45 p.m.  (autographs WR)

Tuesday, Aug. 7, Players day off; no scheduled media availability

Wednesday, Aug. 8, 11 a.m. (mock game) (Andy Reid) (closed to fans)

Thursday, Aug. 9, Pittsburgh at Eagkes, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 10, Players day off; no scheduled media availability

Saturday, Aug. 11, 8:15 a.m. (walkthrough) (Andy Reid) and 2:45 p.m. (autographs DB)

Sunday, Aug. 12, 8:15 a.m. (walkthrough) (Juan Castillo) and 2:45 p.m. (autographs RB, LB)

Monday, Aug. 13, 8:15 a.m. (walkthrough) (Marty Mornhinweg) and 2:45 p.m. (autographs QB, TE, specialists)

Tuesday, Aug. 14, 8:15 a.m. (walkthrough) (Andy Reid) and 2:45 p.m. (fan appreciation day)

Wednesday, Aug. 15, Players day off; no scheduled availability; break camp

Thursday, Aug. 16, Training camp resumes at NovaCare Complex

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(Below) With Phillies striking out, Eagles training camp looks a lot more promising.