Welcome to Doug Pederson’s first press conference of the 2019 season.

I mean, I think the start of training camp is the official start of the season, right? That’s what I’m going with.

The head ball coach met with reporters today after the Birds’ first session, which ran about 70 minutes. Here’s what he had to say:

  • The team needs to “be smart” with Brandon Brooks, but Doug is “encouraged with his progress and where he’s at.”
  • He still wants to be cautious with guys who are “working through some stuff,” but he’s happy to have a full complement of guys out there.
  • Miles Sanders is “healthy and ready to go.” They’d like to mix him in, work him in slowly and then see what he can do in preseason.
  • They’ll monitor Carson Wentz’s snaps throughout the summer, with quarterbacks they don’t want to fatigue the arm, but there are no limitations on the starting QB.
  • Wentz is cleared for contact.
  • Darren Sproles knows how to get himself ready, so no concern there from a health standpoint.
  • Regarding expectations, Pederson wants the Eagles to focus on themselves.
  • RE: contact and tackling, don’t expect any big changes in how they approach practices.
  • There will be no change in how he communicates with the medical staff, despite changes in the latter department. “We’ll communicate openly in everything we do.” His “go-between guys” won’t change.
  • He won’t put a timetable on Jalen Mills, but he’s “happy” with where he’s at right now (Mills is beginning camp on the physically unable to perform list).

A few tidbits from reporters who got players off to the side, after the jump:

Carson Wentz didn’t say anything that was too interesting, though he did talk about the dynamic of having DeSean Jackson in the fold and mentioned that he’s lost a few pounds since last year. Most of the questions were macro-level things such as “what are your expectations?” and blah blah blah, but the weight stuff came up towards the end of the availability.

Here’s the full video if you wanna hide in your cubicle and loaf off for a bit: