The Philadelphia Eagles signed 14 players to their practice squad on Wednesday afternoon, according to an official team announcement. Here’s an alphabetical order overview.
EAGLES PRACTICE SQUAD
LB Oren Burks
WR Parris Campbell
RB Tyrion Davis-Price
OL Nick Gates
QB Will Grier
DT Gabe Hall
TE E.J. Jenkins
G/C Dylan McMahon
WR Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint
S Andre’ Sam
LB Brandon Smith
S Caden Sterns
TE Jack Stoll
OT Laekin Vakalahi (international exemption)
ANALYSIS
There was some thought that the Eagles might keep Burks on the roster after his strong showing in the preseason finale. Good to be able to get him back on the practice squad as a veteran with plenty of experience (15 starts over 91 games played) on both defense and special teams.
Campbell was the original favorite to be WR3 before he got hurt and didn’t much in camp. Experienced WR depth option.
TDP clearly has some juice as a runner but he also has some warts to prevent the coaching staff from fully trusting him. Easier to keep around as RB4 on the practice squad.
Gates is reportedly going to be temporarily elevated to the Eagles’ Week 1 roster. He figures to be the top backup option at center, if not guard as well. The Eagles could look to eventually put Gates on the 53-man roster after using up his three temporary elevations.
I wondered if Grier might call it quits as a player and join the coaching staff but he’s still around to provide QB depth. Things have obviously gone really wrong if he ever has to play.
Hall, an undrafted rookie free agent, seems worth keeping around as a developmental player.
Jenkins offers more pass-catching juice as a depth tight end whereas Stoll is considered to be the superior blocker. Stoll is probably more likely to be elevated to the game day roster to be TE3 behind Dallas Goedert and Grant Calcaterra.
McMahon could eventually get poached; Eagles practice squad offensive linemen have been coveted in previous years (see: Kayode Awosika, Tyre Phillips, Julian Good-Jones, Brett Toth). For now, he’s here to develop behind the scenes.
New addition Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint played college football for Georgia (ever heard of that school?). The 6’1”, 195-pounder then signed with the Washington Commanders as an undrafted rookie free agent. MRJ led Washington in preseason receptions with seven for 77 yards, including this jump ball effort.
Sam’s upside is likely limited as a rookie who turns 26 in February. But he can provide depth at safety and on special teams. Wouldn’t be shocking to see him get temporarily elevated at some point(s) this season.
Smith is another candidate to get temporarily elevated for defensive depth and ST purposes.
The Eagles seemed intrigued by Sterns’ upside, though he’ll need to prove he can get healthy and stay that way.
Vakalahi doesn’t count towards the 16-player practice squad limit as an international exemption. He saw very limited practice reps and preseason snaps. Clearly a long-term project.
The Eagles have three more spots to fill. We could see more news on that front tomorrow.
