For the first time since Aug. 3, rookie wide receiver Makai Lemon was a full participant at Monday's practice for the Philadelphia Eagles. The 20th overall pick in this year’s draft had a three-week layoff after tweaking the same hamstring that forced him to miss most of OTAs earlier in the summer.
"I feel pretty confident," the rookie wideout said about his injury not recurring. "Just learning from my mistakes from previous times, working with the trainers, setting a good plan for me. Just being a professional off the field, so if things like this come about, I'm ready for everything."
Lemon has a short window to get ready for life as an NFL receiver with the regular season opener against division rival Washington less than three weeks away.
Lemon has missed a lot to begin his pro career. From physical reps, building a rapport and flow with quarterback Jalen Hurts, playing games and the joint practices, the rookie is playing catch-up in a sense.
However, the first-year wideout noticeably stayed after the 90-minute practice session on Monday to make up for some of that lost time and has been doing whatever he can to be best prepared, often staying after practices in the past as well to work with his new QB.
“He’s been working his tail off to get back out there,” Offensive Coordinator Sean Mannion told the media Monday.
“He’s been really, really engaged mentally. He’s been with A-MO [Wide Receivers Coach Aaron Moorehead] and Grizz [Offensive Passing Game Coordinator Josh Grizzard] constantly. He’s been locked in during all the walkthrough settings.”
Lemon has been shadowing his position on the field according to Mannion and putting in the extra work needed to be ready to make an impact.
"I feel like you're just able to see the game from a different perspective," he said about taking mental reps. "You know, taking the mental reps is just as important as being on the field. So, making sure I was doing that over and over again so when I step on the field, I'm ready to go and there is no far gap."
The wideout has been picking the brain of his new offensive coordinator to better understand the nuances of the offense, where he expects to be running most of his routes in the slot.
"He's been super helpful," Lemon said. "To stay after practice, giving me little details and walking through things. I appreciate him for that."
Unfortunately, Lemon has not been able to show fans why Howie Roseman's decision to move up in front of the Pittsburgh Steelers while they were on the phone with Lemon on Night 1 of the draft was the right move.
That can change Tuesday with the team's open practice slated for 6 p.m. at Lincoln Financial Field and possibly Friday night when the Eagles wrap up their preseason slate with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Despite not playing much at all to start his NFL career, it’s evident that the 22-year-old is a competitor and does not like missing the amount of time he has.
“Just seeing all the guys hooping out there and just staying on the sideline,” Lemon said on what was the hardest part about sitting out for this much time. “Just standing on the sideline, you’re like, I wish I could be out there with them. Just doing what I can do away from being on the field so when I get back out there I’m ready to go.”
“It’s definitely tough. I’m real competitive and I never want to be away from this game,” Lemon added.
Although carrying a quiet yet confident demeanor, when he steps on the field, the competitor in him is on full display.
“Whenever a receiver has to block one of us, you kind of get to test the type of person he is on the field. He didn’t shy away from it,” Jalyx Hunt said when going up against the rookie.
“He didn’t try to just get around me. He put hands on me and tried to really block me, and I respect that, and that’s cool to see because his demeanor on the field is totally different than who he is.”
Hunt added: "He's like... just a different energy, a different monster type thing. It was just cool seeing that."
Tuesday night, thousands of Eagles fans will flock to the Linc to get their first glimpse of the 2026 team, including this year's first-round pick. The wide receiver is excited for the opportunity, but is treating it as a normal day at work.
"I'm going out there like it's another day. You gotta get money. You have to go to work and get better. I think it'll be a great feeling for the fans to see us go out there and go to work."
