Eagles' Uar Bernard draws conflicting reviews in first-ever NFL practice

TL;DR

Uar Bernard, a rookie for the Philadelphia Eagles, received mixed reviews during his first NFL practice at rookie minicamp. Despite being new to organized football, his physical attributes have drawn attention.

Key points

Uar Bernard is a rookie for the Philadelphia Eagles
He received mixed reviews in his first NFL practice
Bernard is new to organized football
His physical attributes have garnered attention

Philadelphia Eagles

Eagles' Uar Bernard draws conflicting reviews in first-ever NFL practice originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Uar Bernard is playing football.

It's not something he has done in an organized setting before being drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles, but he's now at rookie minicamp, part of a team for the first time, trying to learn the game.

He's there because he's a physical specimen.

At the same time, he kind of looks like a guy who hasn't played football before -- because he really hasn't.

This is the first footage of him from rookie minicamp, which features help needed to get his helmet on correctly, but then some quick burst out of a stance:

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Clearly, this is a long-term development path.

The Eagles wouldn't have taken Bernard in the draft from Nigeria if they didn't believe he had a chance, though.

“It’s a dream come true for me because I’ve worked hard for this,” Bernard said after being selected. “I’ve not played football, but I’ve gone through some drills that made me believe that I’m going to get better every day. I thank God for everything. I thank God for life. I thank God for the opportunities given to me to be drafted by the Eagles.”

The Eagles did find offensive lineman Jordan Mailata through the International Pathway Program, and they're hoping they nailed another one.

“We wanted to take the chance on the kid,” Eagles GM Howie Roseman said after the draft. “Obviously, we’ve had great success with that program. We spent a lot of time with him. Coach [Clint] Hurtt went down there and spent the day with him, worked him out. You know, just for us, it was a passion project. Obviously, he’s got a lot of tools in his body. Understand it’s going to take time. It’s going to take a lot of time here.”

Bernard has a long journey ahead of him. These are just his first steps.

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Q&A

What were the reviews of Uar Bernard's performance in his first NFL practice?

Uar Bernard received conflicting reviews during his first practice, with some observers noting his potential while others pointed out areas needing improvement.

Why is Uar Bernard significant to the Philadelphia Eagles?

Uar Bernard is significant to the Eagles due to his impressive physical attributes and potential as a rookie, despite being new to organized football.

What is Uar Bernard's background in football before joining the Eagles?

Before joining the Eagles, Uar Bernard had not played football in an organized setting, making his transition to the NFL particularly noteworthy.