Eagles breakout candidates for 2023 season
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Eagles football returns this week. The Birds report to training camp Tuesday with a retooled roster after a Super Bowl run.
Last season, we saw players like Jalen Hurts, DeVonta Smith and others break out to have career years.
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Here's a list of players with breakout potential for 2023.
LB Nakobe Dean
The Eagles are rolling the dice on Dean to be one of their starting linebackers after barely playing on defense last season and not doing enough in practice to supplant T.J. Edwards or Kyzir White.
But Dean has a prime pathway for a breakout after the Eagles lost Edwards and White in free agency.
Last season, Edwards ranked first on the team in tackles with 159, while White ranked second at 110. Dean only had 13. Seven of those 13 came on special teams, where he played the majority of his snaps. He never started a game last season.
Dean wore the green dot earlier this year during practices, suggesting he's stepping into Edwards' former role as the defense's play caller.
All eyes will be on Dean in training camp and throughout the season as the Georgia product who led the Bulldogs will have a key role in Sean Desai's defense.
RB Kenneth Gainwell
In the playoffs, Gainwell shined. He led the Eagles in rushing, scampering for 181 yards, scoring a touchdown and became a threat to catch passes out of the backfield.
But, he's the third tailback on the depth chart behind Rashaad Penny and D'Andre Swift. So why is he a breakout candidate?
Swift and Penny both have histories of suffering injuries. If that happens, it's Gainwell time. He showed last year he can handle a decent-size workload.
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Even if Penny and Swift are healthy, Gainwell will still have a role as the team's third RB.
But there's a chance for Gainwell to a have true breakout year if Penny and Swift are sidelined for an extended period of time.
DT Milton Williams
The Eagles have a star-studded defensive line headlined by guys like Haason Reddick, Fletcher Cox, Brandon Graham and Josh Sweat. Don't forget about newcomers Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith and fellow Georgia Bulldog Jordan Davis.
But in that mix is a guy primed for a breakout season: defensive tackle Milton Williams.
Williams, a third-round pick out of Louisiana Tech in 2021, dealt with nagging injuries last season and didn't start producing until after the bye week.
Williams has flashed potential throughout his two years, and with Javon Hargrave heading to San Francisco in free agency, there are plenty of snaps for the LA Tech product to compete for in 2023.
S Reed Blankenship
Blankenship was an undrafted free agent last year, but after Gardner-Johnson went down with an injury midway through the season, Blankenship played like he belonged.
He started in five games following the injury, including in the playoffs against the Giants and there's a good chance he'll be a starter in the 2023 season.
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The Middle Tennessee product enters camp battling for a starting spot against Terrell Edmunds, rookie Sydney Brown, Justin Evans and K'Von Wallace.
If he earns a starting role, Blankenship could break out in Desai's defense.
OL Cam Jurgens
Jurgens only played 35 snaps on offense for the Birds last season as a rookie. Expect that to rise significantly in the 2023 season.
The 2022 second-round pick out of the University of Nebraska is the favorite to start at right guard between Jason Kelce and Lane Johnson.
Jurgens was selected to replace Kelce at center once he retires, but he's set to play alongside his eventual predecessor this season.
Jurgens is a bit undersized at guard. He's listed at 303 pounds, but he told CBS Sports he wanted to get to at least 310 or 315 pounds for training camp.
Third-round rookie Tyler Steen will be Jurgens' biggest competition at right guard.
The Eagles had several Pro Bowlers along the offensive line last season. Maybe Jurgens is next?
