Darby begins to settle in

For a guy with a game built on speed, Ronald Darby couldn’t help but grin at how quickly his life changed in just 24 hours.

The Eagles sent receiver Jordan Matthews and a third-round draft pick to the Bills for Darby, Buffalo’s second-round pick in 2015.

Less than a day later, Darby was taking mental reps at Eagles practice.

“I heard I was getting traded,” Darby said Saturday. “I closed my eyes, opened them, I’m on a plane. Closed my eyes, opened them and I’m lying down in a hotel. Now I’m here. Everything’s been moving real fast.”

Who is Ronald Darby? Eagles safety Terrence Brooks, who teamed with Darby at Florida State, offered the most extensive scouting report.

“He’s a very physical guy, he’s quick,” Brooks said. “His cover skills are on point - very tight coverage. He’s definitely a guy that can bring something to this defense that (Jim) Schwartz will love and the rest of the team. Darby’s a scrapper, man. He knows what he’s doing out there.”

Darby (5-10, 197) ran 4:38 in the 40-yard dash and had a vertical leap of almost 42 inches at the scouting combine. In two seasons he ranked among the team leaders in tackles starting 29 of 32 games for the Bills.

Two years ago Darby played the Eagles at the Linc.

“I had a good game against Philly,” Darby said. “We ended up losing that game. Their receivers were good, their offense was good. Fans were hard core, I remember that.”

Darby also got some Eagles history from former Philly running back LeSean McCoy, now with the Bills, and following Brian Dawkins and DeSean Jackson. The Eagles have their fingers crossed Darby can be a shutdown defender.

“I’m not familiar with him but I know he’s an athletic guy who shows potential to line up and cover your No. 1 receiver,” safety Malcolm Jenkins said. “Hopefully it gives us more depth and more stability on the outside, creates a little more competition.”

Darby has a significant challenge ahead as the Eagles play two games against NFC East receivers Odell Beckham Jr., Dez Bryant and Terrelle Pryor, now with the Redskins. Darby has something to prove.

“Yeah, for sure,” Darby said. “To myself and to the fans. I just want to work hard, play hard. (Beckham is) a real good receiver. You just have to play disciplined, play fast and get to the ball. He’s aggressive when the ball’s in the air. It’s like that for a lot of receivers around the league, especially in this division. Just have to play fast and get to the ball.”

Darby is among five Florida State players with the Eagles, all on defense. The list includes defensive backs Terrence and Ron Brooks, safety Corey Graham, linebacker Nigel Bradham and tackle Tim Jernigan.

That Seminole edginess won’t take long to show up.

“He’s just very physical against the run,” Terrence Brooks said. “He doesn’t shy away from contact. He wasn’t someone we (the safeties) had to worry about or lean to his side stopping the run.”

••• The Eagles got a scare at the end of their 2-hour, 40-minute practice Saturday when wide receiver Torrey Smith went down with an injury.

The timing couldn’t have been worse as the Birds barely had shipped Matthews to the Bills.

Fortunately for the Eagles, Smith didn’t injure his groin, as it appeared when he began trying to stretch.

Preliminarily, Smith said he got the wind knocked out of him.

••• Elsewhere on the injury front, Eagles head coach Doug Pederson still is concerned enough with the health of receiver Alshon Jeffery, who had a shoulder injury, to hold him out of most of the team drills.

Jeffery wasn’t real good in the 7-on-7 work, although Carson Wentz forced the ball to him on some occasions.

Sitting out practice: guards Brandon Brooks (ankle) and Josh Andrews (hand), tackle Hal Vaitai (knee), running back Wendell Smallwood (hamstring), cornerback Ron Brooks (hamstring), tight end Anthony Denham (hamstring) and wide receiver Paul Turner (shoulder).

Also wide receivers Bryce Treggs (hamstring) and Marcus Johnson (hamstring).

Quarterback Nick Foles (elbow) was slated to throw on the side after practice.

••• The Eagles signed wide receiver Keevan Lucas (Tulsa) to a three-year contract and released linebacker Steven Daniels.