Training camp saw an injury scare yesterday when Eagles Guard Mekhi Becton had to leave practice early. Fortunately, Becton is back today, keeping his starter hopes alive. Eagles practice this past Monday, Aug. 19, left one of their most important units banged up. The birds suffered multiple injuries, including Guard Mekhi Becton. Fortunately, Becton came back to practice today, which keeps his chances at being a starter going into the season alive.
Eagles Guard Mekhi Becton Suffers Injury Scare
The Injuries
According to CBS Sports, Becton walked off early in team drills. he ultimately left the practice with a lower right leg injury. However, the article states that after the practice ended and he was inspected, the injury doesn’t appear to be anything serious.
Additionally, guard Landon Dickerson was hobbling throughout practice but he hasn’t missed a day of camp up to this point, so he seems to be battling through whatever ailments he is dealing with.
A Shaky Start So Far For Becton
The Jets selected Becton with the 11th pick of the 2020 NFL Draft. He was one of the biggest prospects to come out of that draft, both due to his potential and his raw size and ability. He stands at 6’7, 364 pounds and posted stellar numbers at the combine that years combine.
Becton posted a 5.10 40-yard dash, the fastest 40 time for a man his size since 1987. He also has a 10 3/4 inch hand size and 35 5/8 arm length. A Jets report from 2020 claimed that Becton’s size and athleticism made him a prime force in the run game but also against pass rushers.
The Jets looked at his intangibles and thought that they were selecting a force on the defensive line to carry them into the future. However, things didn’t work out in New York
Falling Off With the Jets, Starting Fresh In Philly?
Becton showed flashes with the Jets throughout his four-year stint there, but the key issue as to why he left was health.
One of Becton’s key traits coming out of college was his reliability. That hasn’t been the same during his time in the NFL. During his college tenure, he started most games during his seasons at Louisville, including all 13 games in the 2019 season as a tackle.
In the NFL, though, Becton played just one game in his sophomore season, and he missed the entire 2022 season with a leg injury. He finally played a full season for the Jets in 2023, but his time with the Jets would come to an end. Becton signed with the Eagles this past offseason, looking for a fresh start, and it seems to be paying off.
There were supposedly signs of struggle at the onset of camp, with Becton falling behind Tyler Steen on the unofficial depth chart. However, things have seemingly picked up, and many media outlets seem to be pointing towards him possibly starting at right guard this year. In order for that to happen, he needs to stay healthy, and avoiding injury scares will be critical for him going forward.
Main Image: Tommy Gilligan – USA Today Sports
