Tag: michael warren

Eagles reveal jersey numbers for undrafted free agent rookies

Eagles reveal jersey numbers for undrafted free agent rookies

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The Philadelphia Eagles signed several talented undrafted free agents this spring and after an uncertain summer due to the Covid-19 pandemic, they now have jersey numbers.

The Eagles quietly revealed the jersey numbers for all their undrafted free agents.

DB Grayland Arnold – 33

WR Manasseh Bailey – 3

DB Michael Jacquet – 46

C Luke Juriga – 74

OG Julian Good-Jones – 61

RB Adrian Killins Jr. – 46

DE Matt Leo – 64

LB Dante Olson – 59

DB Prince Smith – 41

RB Mike Warren – 38

DT Raequan Williams – 61

TE Noah Togiai – 85

Arnold seems like a keep with the No. 33, while former Oregon State tight end Noah Togiai who end up keeping his current number as well. Luke Juriga, Dante Olson, and Michael Warren also have great shots at making the team.

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Duce Staley chimes in on whether the Eagles need to add a veteran running back

Duce Staley says the Eagles don’t need to add a veteran RB

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The Philadelphia Eagles added speed and youth to the roster this offseason but they’ve also shied away from adding a big-name running back to the group.

Eagles’ brass has made it clear for months now that Miles Sanders is the workhorse and they’ll divvy up the remaining carries by committee, spreading them out among three veterans and two undrafted free agents.

Former Eagles great and current running backs coach Duce Staley was asked about the potential to add a veteran to the group and his sentiments matched Doug Pederson and Howie Roseman’s outlook on the group.

Staley said he’s happy about where the group is and when asked about Miles Sanders, he said this.

“I’m excited about him handling the full load. I don’t see Miles as a guy you have to monitor his touches. … I think you put him & you let him go.”

If Sanders can stay healthy and Boston Scott can continue his play from last season, the Eagles should be in good hands.

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Raequan Williams named the Philadelphia Eagles best UDFA entering training camp

Raequan Williams named the Eagles best UDFA entering training camp

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The Philadelphia Eagles waived five players on Sunday, two that were defensive linemen and one defensive tackle who actually saw regular-season action in 2019.

A major reason for Howie Roseman’s parting ways with Albert Rush stemmed the Eagles being supremely high on former Michigan State defensive tackle Raequan Williams.

The rugged defensive tackle isn’t flash and dazzle, but more of a blue-collar, get it out of the mud type player that will definitely find his place on someone’s roster. Williams joined the Eagles to rave reviews and during Bleacher Report’s breakdown of the top undrafted free agent for all 32 teams, the defensive tackle was front and center again.

The Philadelphia Eagles may have lucked out when former Michigan State defensive end Raequan Williams fell to them outside of the draft. The 6’4″, 305-pound Williams has the size of a more traditional down lineman, but he has shown the sort of penetration power that teams covet at the position.

In 2019, Williams had 48 tackles, 5.0 sacks, 7.5 tackles for loss, and two passes defended. Williams also proved durable, starting 42 consecutive games.

The Eagles were impressed enough by Williams to offer him $100,000 guaranteed, per Spotrac.

If Williams doesn’t crack the 53-man roster, he will have a good chance of landing elsewhere.

The former Michigan State Spartan can improve as a pass rusher, but he’s long, versatile, and he has a high-motor against the run game.

Williams earned third-team All-Big Ten honors as a junior after starting 13 games and racking up 53 tackles, 10.5 for loss, two sacks, and five pass breakups. Rather than cash out on his pro potential, he stayed in school and earned third-team All-Big Ten honors again and he’ll carve out a role on the Eagles roster.

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Eagles can carry up to 16 players on an expanded practice squad after the NFL, NFLPA agree to CBA for 2020 season

Eagles will be allowed to carry 16 players on the practice squad

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In a move that could provide a unique advantage for the Philadelphia Eagles and other savvy NFL teams, the league and the players union approved an updated CBA for the 2020 NFL season.

Several of the things discussed included testing protocols for the coronavirus, the ability for players to opt-out of playing, and salary cap ramifications for the 2021 season.

One of the measures that were quietly addressed was the expansion of the practice from 12 to upwards of 16 if a team sees fit.

The agreed-upon deal includes an allowance for 16-man practice squads, high-risk and general opt-outs of participation due to the pandemic (deadline date to be determined), and the absence of a preseason for 2020, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported earlier Friday.

According to Ian Rapoport, training camp is set to be comprised of 20 days of a ramp-up period and a maximum of 14 padded practices.

Per Mark Maske of The Washington Post, teams can protect a maximum of four players per week from being signed by other teams.

Such a move would allow the Eagles to keep up to six extra players on the practice squad during the 2020 season as the league attempts to navigate the coronavirus pandemic, while not sacrificing some of the talented undrafted free agents signed this spring.

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Philadelphia Eagles 53-man roster projection ahead of 2020 training camp

Eagles 53-man roster projection ahead of 2020 training camp

GM Howie Roseman stayed true to his retooling effort, forgoing big named free agents at specific positions to add youth and speed to the roster.

In the NFL draft, Roseman made waves by selecting a quarterback in the second round and then securing Carson Wentz some speed via trade (Marquise Goodwin) and three solid draft picks in Jalen Reagor, John Hightower, and Quez Watkins.

With the training camp here and set to start here’s a look at the Eagles projected 53-man roster.

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QB – 3 — Carson Wentz, Jalen Hurts, Nate Sudfeld

Sudfeld is the unquestioned backup, but the Eagles have made it clear that Hurts will be involved from the beginning, meaning he’ll likely make the roster every week, especially with it expanding two more players.

A huge battle to watch will be Sudfeld and Hurts, with the rookie possibly ascending early on or struggling to learn the ropes as an NFL passer. Either way, Hurts is apart of the Eagles’ future and apart of the present.

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EAST HARTFORD, CT – SEPTEMBER 29: Michael Warren II #3 of the Cincinnati Bearcats carries the ball during the first half against the Connecticut Huskies at Rentschler Field on September 29, 2018 in East Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images)

RB – 4 — Boston Scott, Corey Clement, Miles Sanders, Michael Warren

The Eagles appeared prepared to enter the 2020 NFL season with three holdovers from last season and Elijah Holyfield was the third name. After bringing Corey Clement back in free agency and signing undrafted free agent Michael Warren, this group will look different. Sanders will be a year stronger, while the Eagles brass loves Boston Scott and what he brings.  Look for the undrafted rookie Michael Warren, to snag the role of goalline and short-yardage back if it isn’t Jalen Hurts there as well.

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Eagles’ UDFA Michael Warren among elite company in Yards After Contact since 2018

Michael Warren among best RB’s since 2018 in Yards After Contact

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In most normal NFL offseasons, Michael Warren would be incorporated into the Eagles roster via the practice squad or simply landing on the 53 man roster.

With the coronavirus pandemic halting the offseason workout program and teams now scrambling to reduce their training camp rosters to 80, Warren is in jeopardy of possibly being an odd man out in the Eagles backfield.

The Eagles need a compliment to Miles Sanders and although names like Devonta Freeman have been mentioned, Warren’s tough running style should translate to the NFL. Despite having a smaller name in collegiate circles, Warren has been a workhorse since 2018 and joins some big names in the category of gaining first down yards after contact.

Warren turned pro after rushing 261 times for 1,265 yards and 14 touchdowns in 14 games last season for the Bearcats.

Standing 5-foot-9, 226 pounds, the Toledo, Ohio, native is a load to bring down and very productive.

With NFL offering to skip the entire preseason schedule, how will Eagles rookies and undrafted free agents be impacted?

NFL offers players the option to skip entire preseason game schedule

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In a move that has been decades in the making, the NFL has proposed eliminating the slate of preseason games for all 32 teams amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The move was suggested to help placate the player’s request to have more acclimation time during the training camp period after missing all the offseason team activities and minicamps.

The move could benefit certain Eagles veterans but would greatly impact select rookies and undrafted free agents who are looking to make the team. The NFL has also discussed reduced training camp roster, making it almost impossible for anyone but drafted rookies to make the 53 man roster and that could cause a conundrum for skill position and offensive linemen drafted in the later rounds.

A guy like Jalen Reagor is a special talent and should have no problems adjusting to the speed of NFL games, whereas players like Quez Watkins and John Hightower will have to be on point from the start of on-field workouts with the Eagles returning DeSean Jackson, Alshon Jeffery, JJ Arcega-Whiteside, and the newest addition Marquise Goodwin.

Undrafted free agents like Michael Warren (RB), Grayland Arnold (DB), Noah Togiai (TE), Luke Juriga (OL), Dante Olson (LB) and Raekwon Williams (DL) were considered locks to make the team or at least the practice squad, but the loss of preseason film could be detrimental to those players and a handful of others.

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How the expansion of the NFL’s practice squads could impact the Eagles

NFL’s squad expansion could provide a huge advantage for the Eagles

As the sports world awaits live the renewing of several sports league the Eagles and the rest of the NFL are looking towards July 28, when the Birds will convene at Lincoln Financial Field for the start of training camp.

The Eagles spent what would have been OTAs and minicamps holding a virtual offseason program due to the coronavirus pandemic. With protocols in place to keep players and coaching staff safe, the NFL and the NFLPA are considering expanding practice squads from 12 to 16 players.

The initial increase to 12 players was definitely beneficial to the Eagles, but with the possible addition of four more players, Howie Roseman will have plenty of roster options to work with this coming season.

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How the increase impacts the Eagles:

The Eagles found a few gems in the undrafted free agent process and Howie Roseman put together one of the NFL’s strongest classes.

The headliners were Cincinnati RB Michael Warren, Michigan State DL Raequan Williams, Montana LB Dante Olson, and Baylor DB Grayland Arnold, all draftable guys.

Warren will now have the opportunity to carve out a role on the Eagles roster without Howie Roseman risking losing him to another team looking to sign a running back. Raequan William’s chances of developing and sticking around increased as well.

The practice squad increase could be huge for a player like former Baylor star cornerback Grayland Arnold, who could now have the chance to develop and eventually work his way onto the Eagles roster in 2021 at a value contract.

The young slot cornerback was electric in the big-12 last season and could allow Howie Roseman to spend money elsewhere while stockpiling young undrafted talent.

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NFL considering expanding practice squads from 12 to as many as 16 players

NFL considering increasing practice squads from 12 to 16 players

In a move that could allow the Philadelphia Eagles to add more depth and versatility, Mike Garafalo of NFL Media is reporting that the league and NFLPA are in discussions on an expansion of the practice squads.

Back in March, NFL players voted to approve a new collective bargaining agreement with the league’s owners that runs through at least 2030. The new CBA expands the NFL’s playoff field by two teams starting with this upcoming season and we’ll see the regular season expand from 16 games to 17 games as early as 2021.

Such a move would allow the Eagles to keep up to six extra players on the practice squad during the 2020 season as the league attempts to navigate the coronavirus pandemic.

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Eagles backup RB position named one of the NFL’s biggest roster concerns

Eagles backup RB position named the NFL’s biggest roster concern

The Philadelphia Eagles have one of the top young running backs in the NFL on their roster but many experts and analysts around the league believe a skilled veteran is needed.

The Birds have had some talks with Devonta Freeman and LeSean McCoy but the team has also insinuated that they’re prepared to give bigger roles to Boston Scott and Corey Clements.

NFL.com’s Gil Brandt broke down some of the biggest and most concerning roster holes in the league and backup running back for the Eagles landed on the list.

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Philadelphia Eagles

BACKUP RUNNING BACK
I’m bullish on Miles Sanders’ chances to become the first bell-cow back of the Doug Pederson era, but if something were to happen to him, the Eagles could be in trouble. The cupboard currently looks awfully bare when it comes to potential replacements, with Boston Scott, Corey Clement and Elijah Holyfield positioned as the top three backups. Carlos Hyde could have been an option, but he signed with Seattle. Devonta Freeman remains a possibility, but the former Atlanta starter might have salary demands that are too rich for the Eagles’ blood. LeSean McCoy says he would love to return to his former team, but the fact that he was a healthy scratch for Kansas City in last year’s playoffs raises questions about how much he has left in the tank. It might make sense to kick the tires on Lamar Miller, who is progressing in his rehab from reconstructive knee surgery.

The Eagles appear confident in carving out a role for Scott after his late-season performance in 2019, while a healthy Cory Clement can offer some relief for Sanders as well.

The wild card in the process will be the development of undrafted free agent running backs Adrian Killins and Michael Warren. Warren offers the Eagles their best chance at complementing Miles Sanders with a bigger workhorse type back on a value contract.

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