Eagles rookie's concerning offseason takes another negative turn

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Makai Lemon. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Eagles rookie Makai Lemon's concerning offseason takes another negative turn

By Ernesto Cova | Last updated Aug 5, 2026 8:01 AM ET

The Philadelphia Eagles pulled some strings to trade up and get Makai Lemon in the 2026 NFL Draft.

So far, they haven't gotten much of a return on their investment with their first-round rookie. Lemon missed time in spring workouts with a lower-leg injury. He had hamstring issues, and the team erred on the side of caution by shutting him down.

Now, after a couple of underwhelming practices, Nick Sirianni's team has had to take the same approach. According to The Athletic's Zach Berman, he's dealing with another hamstring injury.

Makai Lemon is dealing with a hamstring injury

"Makai Lemon and DeVonta Smith both have hamstring injuries. Neither is practicing," Berman wrote. "There’s not internal concern these will be long-term issues. But hamstrings for WR are obviously important to monitor," he added in a follow-up post.

There’s not internal concern these will be long-term issues. But hamstrings for WR are obviously important to monitor. https://t.co/twgr0AoaIq
— Zach Berman (@ZBerm) August 4, 2026

Lemon has made the rounds for all the wrong reasons since he turned pro. He wasn't able to do much at rookie minicamp and OTAs, and reports from his first training-camp practices have been far from impressive.

Of course, it's still way too early to give up on such a young and talented player. He drew Amon-Ra St. Brown comparisons, and there's definitely a resemblance in his craftiness, route running and ability to create after the catch.

That said, availability is the best ability, and he'll have plenty of catching up to do if he can't suit up. Soft-tissue injuries tend to linger, and there were already concerns about his smaller frame, so this will be a story to keep a close eye on as the start of the season comes closer.

Ernesto Cova

Ernesto is a bilingual (English-Spanish) sports writer with over eight years of experience covering major leagues such as the NBA, NFL, and MLB. Ernesto’s work focuses on providing insightful, up-to-date coverage of sports, blending his expertise in sports psychology with a passion for analyzing player performance, team dynamics, and trade developments across various sports leagues

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