PHILADELPHIA — The biggest news for the Philadelphia Eagles came after Saturday’s practice. All-Pro right tackle Lane Johnson announced that season will “probably” be his last. Johnson, 36, said family has become a bigger priority than football, in large part because his mother is dealing with health issues.Johnson reached the decision about his future while spending four practices away from the team’s facility. His presumed successor, third-round rookie Markel Bell, spent the majority of the week at right tackle with the first-team offense. Bell also played first-team reps on Friday, when Johnson only participated in individual drills upon his return. During Saturday’s scrimmage, Johnson played limited snaps to begin two first-team drives, with Bell subbing in to finish the series.The Eagles are unquestionably at their best with Johnson in the lineup. However, this week offered a window both into Bell’s development and the Eagles’ future without Johnson.“He’s one of the best rookies I’ve been around,” Johnson said of Bell. “Just as far as being in the playbook, no complaining. Haven’t heard him complain one time. He’s always asking questions. Just a really mature young man who handles stuff off the field well. He’s just always asking questions. You can tell he was coached up well at Miami. When I see a guy with that size and that ability and that wing span and movement, you can have a lot of success in this business.”Here are the takeaways from Saturday’s scrimmage, the Eagles’ first of training camp. Players wore full pads, but defenders did not tackle ball-carriers to the ground. “Sacks” were plays blown dead when defenders came near quarterbacks but were not allowed to make contact.Injury reportThe Eagles were down four receivers in their first scrimmage. DeVonta Smith, Makai Lemon and Britain Covey remain sidelined with hamstring injuries. Danny Gray missed Saturday’s practice with a concussion. Rookie safety Cole Wisniewski (hamstring) and rookie edge rusher Keyshawn James-Newby (ankle) also remain sidelined.Stock up for interior O-line depthWillie Lampkin’s stock is rising. At the very least, the 5-11, 290-pound offensive lineman has capturing the coaching staff’s attention. Rookie quarterback Cole Payton said the Eagles show “good-effort” clips in team meetings after every practice, and that Lampkin is on those clips “all the time.”“He’s playing his a— off, and I’m super happy for him,” Payton said.Lampkin opened training camp playing with the third rotation. On Saturday, he played right guard with the second-team offense. Fred Johnson played left tackle; Michael Jordan, left guard; Jake Majors, center; John Ojukwu, right tackle. In one-on-one pass-rush drills, Lampkin twice stymied defensive tackle Gabe Hall. Lampkin also staved off undrafted rookie DT Zion Wilson’s rush and threw him to the ground. Later, in a “backed -up” drill with the second-team offense, Bigsby ran behind Lampkin for an 8-yard gain.Philadelphia’s depth along the interior was a major question entering training camp, and it remains one. Center Cam Jurgens left practice early again on Saturday. Left guard Landon Dickerson, who had a scheduled rest day on Wednesday, appeared to be on a snap pitch count. Drew Kendall subbed in for Landon Dickerson at left guard on Friday and Saturday. During Dickerson’s second drive, Kendall subbed in after four plays.First-time offensive coordinator Sean Mannion called the offensive line “a great position group,” with a “really good group of young linemen that we’re really excited about as well.”A peek at kickoff teamsThe Eagles twice fielded their kickoff and kickoff return teams. Dameon Pierce returned both kicks. Wide receiver Brandon Hayes stood next to Pierce as the second possible return man. On the second kick, Pierce found room to run in the middle of the field. The former Texans running back was Houston’s primary kick returner in 2023 and 2024. He returned a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown against the Cleveland Browns in 2023.Running backs Will Shipley and Tank Bigsby as well as receiver Britain Covey each took turns as Philadelphia’s primary kick returner in 2025. A crowded running back room may make it difficult for Pierce to make the roster, but any preseason success, plus his involvement elsewhere on special teams, will help build his case.“I loved his tape when he came out of Florida, not just as a returner, but also as a core guy,” special teams coordinator Michael Clay said Tuesday. “We’re going to try and see how much he can do from a core aspect.”Kickoff team: Kapena Gushiken, Andre’ Sam, Maximus Pulley, Arnold Ebiketie, Tariq Castro-Fields, Mac McWilliams, Ambry Thomas, Erik Ezukanma, Carson Steele, E.J. Jenkins.Kickoff return team: J.T. Gray, Eli Stowers, Johnny Mundt, Darius Cooper, Jose Ramirez, Deontae Lawson, Jakorian Bennett, Cam Latu, Johnny Wilson, Brandon Hayes, Dameon Pierce.Epps first up at safetyMarcus Epps entered the scrimmage first with the first-team defense, an indication that the eight-year veteran still has the edge in the position battle at safety with Michael Carter II. Carter subbed in during the third drive. Even if this positioning holds, expect Carter to play a notable role in the secondary. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio gave Carter kudos on Wednesday for being the only player who’s learning three positions: safety, nickel and the sixth defensive back in Dime packages.Versatility will also define the depth behind Carter. Jonathan Jones, an 11-year veteran, saw first-team snaps at outside cornerback opposite Quinyon Mitchell. Second-year defensive back Mac McWilliams later saw first-team snaps at outside cornerback with Riq Woolen seeing action at both nickel and outside cornerback with the second-team unit.Defense wins scrimmageThe defense beat the offense in Saturday’s scrimmage 54-45. The scoring system is based on the results of plays.The Eagles’ offense looked clumsy at times. The first-team unit took a delay of game penalty on first-and-goal during an opening drive that fell five yards short of the end zone. Linebacker Jihaad Campbell and defensive tackle Jalen Carter both tallied third-down “sacks” that ended first-team drives. After the latter “sack,” the top units reset the drive. First, Tank Bigsby fumbled the handoff exchange before tight end Dallas Goedert dropped a second-down slant.On third down, Jalyx Hunt got around Markel Bell and forced quarterback Jalen Hurts to scramble on third down — apparently short; but the ball was spotted once again for another fresh set of downs. Baun nearly made a subsequent second-down interception in the flats, but wide receiver Elijah Moore jumped in front of him for a catch that saved the drive. On third-and-8, Hurts’ throw to an inward-bound Hollywood was too wide and fell incomplete, ending the drive.A look at the QBsMannion said Hurts has “been growing every day” in terms of adapting to the uptick in full-field progression reads in the new offensive system. Hurts said the reads are tied into his footwork, especially under center, and his confidence is growing as his experience increases.Hurts was decisive with his throws on Saturday. Early in practice, he hummed a first-and-10 slant to Dontayvion Wicks for first-down yardage. On a fourth-and-3, Hollywood Brown got ahead of Cooper DeJean on a shallow crosser, and Hurts hit the WR to move the chains. Hurts completed another throw on a play-action rollout to Johnny Mundt that sailed through Jalen Carter’s raised arms. On the final drive of practice, Hurts fired a mid-range crosser to Moore that required touch and timing. Moore ran a similar route on the next play, and Baun jumped the pass for an interception.Designed quarterback runs for Hurts will also be a part of Mannion’s offense. At what volume? Unclear. But it is evident so far that coach Nick Sirianni, Mannion and Hurts are on the same page about leveraging the quarterback’s legs on third-down, red-zone and goal-to-go scenarios. On a third-and-goal at the 5, the Eagles ran an RPO with both running back Saquon Barkley and Moore in the backfield with Hurts; linebacker Nolan Smith’s rush forced Hurts to throw it away. Later, in red zone drills, Hurts motioned Barkley leftward out of the backfield and took a designed keeper to the right for what could have been a touchdown.Backup QB Andy Dalton went first with the second-team unit. Accurate and leaning on short throws, his first drive ended on a shallow crosser to rookie tight end Eli Stowers on third-and-long. On Dalton’s second drive, he completed back-to-back throws (including a quickly snapped fourth-down throw to WR Quez Watkins) to overcome a third-and-long scenario. On a later red-zone drive, fellow backup QB Tanner McKee kept a third-and-2 zone-read that fell shy of the sticks.Fourth-stringer Cole Payton threw his fifth interception of training camp to start the developmental group’s only full drive of the scrimmage. Payton first looked downfield and decided not to throw into double coverage, then threw into double coverage along the left sideline. Safety Maximus Pulley jumped the pass for the interception. The unit saw a red-zone scenario, and Payton showcased his proficiency as a rusher with a third-and-2 zone-read keeper that would have been a touchdown.Bursts and booms in the backfieldBarkley’s exceptional agility often creates chunk gains in this system. In a “backed-up” series from the offense’s own 3, Barkley juked out Campbell in the backfield and burst through a hole for what could have been an explosive gain. The coaches called it a 7-yard gain, reset the ball, and Barkley juked out DT Jordan Davis in the backfield for a similar run.The Eagles seem intent on creating as much room for Barkley to move as possible, as quickly as possible — especially in short-yardage situations. Tosses (even on inside runs) save critical time and allow Barkley to make his decisions. His lateral speed is suitable for a scheme that stretches the defense. Even with Baun added along the edge on a second-and-goal play, Barkley escaped to the sideline for a five-yard gain. Barkley still possesses power and burst: In red-zone drills, he recognized a hole in the middle of the defense, and he charged past DeJean for a 7-yard score.Bigsby drew attention in pass protection during the second-team unit’s “backed up” sequence. Bigsby threw a blitzing Ambry Thomas to the ground. Then, on the next play, Bigsby was equally physical while fending off a second blitz; but Bigsby was flagged for a holding penalty.Carson Steele saw his most carries of training camp. Listed as the team’s only pure fullback, Steele has a tough pathway to the 53-man roster. His runs with the developmental unit originated from the backfield, as a running back.