Practice Observations: Fletcher Cox Can’t Hide

When you’re 6-foot-4 and weigh 298 pounds, it’s not easy to hide.

So while Fletcher Cox did his best to sneak into the Varsity House after this afternoon’s practice, the Eagles first-round pick ended up having to stop to answer a few questions.

“I almost got away,” he said.

Tuesday will mark Cox’s final practices at Lehigh. In the Eagles’ first preseason game, he flashed his athleticism, assisting on a tackle behind the line of scrimmage.

“It was my first time playing ball in like eight months, so everything’s not going to be perfect,” Cox said. “Practice will be a little bit different from a game. We watched it [the tape] and critiqued it pretty hard. Just get those small things corrected is really the biggest thing.”

Cox said one of those small things is Jim Washburn tweaking his stance to make sure he’s exploding off the ball.

As for his place in the defense, Cox has a shot to run with the first team at left defensive tackle, alongside Cullen Jenkins. With Mike Patterson sidelined, he’s been rotating in with Derek Landri and Antonio Dixon.

“I’m never comfortable,” Cox said. “I never get myself in a comfort zone. When you get yourself in a comfort zone, that’s when things start to go downhill.”

More practice observations:

* Jamar Chaney participated, although not fully. Mychal Kendricks continues to run with the first-team nickel, alongside DeMeco Ryans.

* One throw Nick Foles has down is the short (5-yard) slant. He rifles that on the money every time. On one play, Foles fired a pass to Clay Harbor. Oshiomogho Atogwe tried to cut in front of the tight end, but was too late.

* The Eagles tried to exploit a mismatch, motioning Bryce Brown to the right of Foles where he lined up against linebacker Keenan Clayton. Brown beat his man deep, but Foles overthrew him.

* A trick play the Eagles should immediately get rid of: Jeremy Maclin lines up in shotgun, Vick out wide to the right and LeSean McCoy in the backfield. Maclin takes the snap, hands off to McCoy, who tosses it back to Vick, who then looks for Maclin, who goes out into his route.

Got all that?

It took about 12 seconds to fully develop and had disaster written all over it.

* I’m ready to stamp it: Damaris Johnson is going to make the 53-man roster. Forget about special teams for a moment. Without Riley Cooper, he’s easily the team’s fourth-best wide receiver. That means pretty much one injury away from being a starter. Johnson makes plays pretty much every afternoon.

* Very scary moment today. Vick was looking for DeSean Jackson deep down the left sideline near midfield. Nate Allen and Nnamdi Asomugha both saw a chance for an interception and leaped for the ball, colliding violently. Asomugha was on the ground for a few minutes before getting up and being carted off. Tim has more details here.

* Brandon Hughes got some time at cornerback after Asomugha went down. Curtis Marsh (hamstring) did not participate.