Agholor being shut down until training camp Practice notes

PHILADELPHIA — Wide receiver Nelson Agholor has been shut down until the start of training camp by the Philadelphia Eagles with an unspecified “lower body” injury, according to coach Doug Pederson, who said he expects Agholor back for the start of training camp next month.

“And quite frankly, [I] just want to keep as much rest on him as possible right now and he’ll be ready to go again at training camp,” Pederson said before Wednesday’s practice, the second of three planned for this year’s mandatory minicamp, which wraps up on Thursday afternoon.

Pederson said he’s optimistic that defensive end Derek Barnett, who hasn’t been able to practice at all in the offseason camps, also will be ready to go by the start of training camp.

Pederson also talked about the message he left with players after their January playoff loss in New Orleans.

“It’s unfortunate, we lost that game, and I think that kind of resonates with the players,” he said.

“You know, it was my message at the end of the season when we sat here and in January: We’ve got to remember these moments, remember these times, because that’s what’s going to make us stronger in the future.

“I’ve seen that sort of excitement and that chip … so to speak, on on the guys’ shoulders, and they’re working hard and building toward the regular season.

“Now it’s a long season. We understand that it’s a onegame-at-a-time mentality, but there is a little different vibe with the guys, you know. This offseason has been very positive.” that no matter how they decide to proceed with next year’s critical team option of $30 million, they will have a decent amount of salary-cap flexibility throughout the length of the contract, which runs through 2024.

This is because more than $28 million of the contract is spread in roster bonuses each year starting in 2020.

In addition, there is a $30 million option due by the 10th day of the 2020 league year that is essentially guaranteed to be picked up.

Failure to do so would make Wentz a free agent while still leaving the Eagles on the hook for most of the remainder of his contract.

It means that their biggest cap hit will come next year, which actually will be uncapped unless a new collective bargaining agreement signed before then supersedes it.

The current agreement runs through the 2020 season.

Either way, the way the contract is structured will not have a significant impact on the team’s ability to acquire top free agents.

Wentz opened the first 11on-11 session with a bomb to DeSean Jackson, who cut inside Rasul Douglas and shifted into fifth gear on his way to a touchdown. There was no safety help. This could be standard procedure for whenever opponents try to cover Jackson the same way.

Though Wentz was generally sharp Wednesday, he had moments in which poor fundamentals proved costly. Twice, he threw across his body while scrambling to his right. The first one was picked off by veteran newcomer Andrew Sendejo. The second was tipped by three players, two of them defenders, before falling incomplete.

Every receiver on this deep roster has flashed at some point in camp. There are so many who look worthy of playing in this league, but the Eagles will only have room for six at the most.

This should make for a a fascinating training camp.

Morning Call reporter Nick Fierro can be reached at 610-7782243 or nfierro@mcall.com.