​PHILADELPHIA — The first six practices of Eagles training camp have been an obvious struggle for second-round rookie tight end Eli Stowers. Stowers hasn’t stood out so far. He hasn’t worked extensively with the first-team offense. He hasn’t flashed the freakish athleticism and play-making ability that enticed the Eagles enough to select him No. 54 overall in the 2026 NFL draft.A year ago, Stowers dominated the SEC, put up gaudy numbers and was named the top tight end in college football. Now, Dallas Goedert’s expected successor looks like he will begin his rookie season as the TE3. It’s been a less than ideal start.But Stowers, to his credit, isn’t shying away from any of that. “The biggest adjustment, I’d say, has probably been the mental challenge,” Stowers said after Wednesday’s practice. “The offense and the way the defenses do their schemes at this level, it’s a little more complex than it was in college. So that’s a challenge. But it’s just about putting the time in and learning it and trying to get better with it.”Stowers was then asked how he’s getting through moments of frustration in camp.“At the end of the day, this is a game where there’s going to be ups and downs, and you’ve just got to learn how to bounce back from adversity,” Stowers said. “No one who has ever played this game has ever been perfect. And the ones who are great are the ones that can bounce back from the adversity and go make the next play.”It helps to know that Stowers’ struggles aren’t necessarily a surprise. Many expected Stowers to be more of a developmental prospect than an instant contributor.Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers plays against Utah State during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)APJust four years ago, Stowers was a quarterback at Texas A&M. An injury that limited his ability to throw forced him to switch positions. He transferred to New Mexico State, where he began his tight end journey, before moving to Vanderbilt. Stowers thrived for the Commodores in 2024 and 2025, recording 111 catches for 1,407 yards and nine touchdowns. In his third season playing tight end, Stowers won the Mackey Award and helped elevate Vanderbilt from SEC bottom-dweller to a tough out.Stowers was able to overcome his inexperience at the tight end position in college. In training camp, though, it’s been pretty apparent. His lack of blocking prowess was a known issue coming into the NFL. But as the Eagles install a new offense while facing one of the league’s best defenses in practice, Stowers’ steep learning curve is showing.The Eagles are sitting at +125 on FanDuel to win the NFC East Division. Our FanDuel Sportsbook review provides a comprehensive guide on how to use their app. Also, our NFL futures betting guide has you covered if you’re interested in learning more about how to bet on NFL futures. How is Stowers approaching that? By taking advantage of