Josh McCown keeps making history. The 41-year-old is now the oldest practice-squad member in NFL history.
McCown will reportedly rejoin the Eagles as an emergency option at quarterback while leading the scout team, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. He spent last season in Philly as the backup to Carson Wentz. McCown took over starting duties in the Eagles’ wild-card playoff loss to Seattle after Wentz left with a concussion.
Philadelphia is signing 41-year-old QB Josh McCown to its practice squad and making him oldest practice squad player in NFL history, league sources tell ESPN. McCown will live in Texas, make $12,000 a week and serve as the Eagles’ emergency QB.
Meanwhile, the self-anointed fastest man on the roster has returned to the Eagles’ nest. Welcome back, Adrian Killins.
Killins, the undrafted rookie out of UCF, turned heads all summer at Eagles training camp — and did it in impressive fashion, at multiple positions: running back, wide receiver, kick returner. He fell victim to a numbers crunch on the final 53-man roster, but the speedy utility player who evoked visions of Darren Sproles is back.
“He’s one of the players that I think has kind of caught our eye a little bit,” head coach Doug Pederson told reporters last week. “We had him at receiver, then running back, or vice versa, running back, receiver, now back to running back. Someone that’s come in and really done a nice job that way.”
Killins was one of 16 total players added to the Eagles’ practice squad on Sunday. The complete practice squad includes the following players: QB Josh McCown, RB Adrian Killins, DE Joe Ostman, RB Elijah Holyfield, RB Michael Warren, G Sua Opeta, WR Deontay Burnett, WR Travis Fulgham, C Luke Juriga, S Grayland Arnold, S Elijah Riley, TE Caleb Wilson, DT Raequan Williams, OT Prince Tega Wanogho, CB Trevor Williams. Defensive end Matt Leo returns as their international roster-exempt experiment.
#Eagles have signed the following players to the practice squad:
The Eagles added former Lions fifth-round pick Jason Huntley to the active roster and continue to sort out the running backs room. Huntley ran a 4.37 in the 40 and adds extra value as a dangerous return man who grew up idolizing DeSean Jackson. Surprisingly, the Eagles cut cornerback Cre’Von LeBlanc to make room.
Roster Move: #Eagles have released CB Cre’Von LeBlanc.
Remember, the practice squad can carry 16 players due to COVID-19 guidelines. That’s up from 10 guys in previous seasons, plus one other new rule: teams can protect up to four practice squad players per week who cannot be signed onto another team’s active roster. This is to safeguard extra bodies against self-quarantine and positive coronavirus tests.
“There’s a lot going on right now for head coaches in the National Football League,” Pederson said, “and it’s not just about trying to get the roster to 53. It’s social issues. It’s pandemic issues.”
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McCown to Assume ‘Quarantine QB’ Role
There has been a lot of chatter about quarantining a quarterback during the week leading up to gamedays. Pederson never ruled it out.
“I haven’t made a decision one way or the other if I’m going to quarantine a quarterback during the week,” the head coach told reporters on Aug. 29. “Because it’s such a fine line, right. If it is a backup quarterback you’ve got to think about all the — not getting the reps during the week and getting around your teammates. There’s all kinds of things that factor into that process or that decision. Things are ongoing as it stands today.”
#Eagles HC Doug Pederson hasn’t made a decision if he’s going to quarantine QB during the week. It’s a tough thing because if you do that, then he can’t practice.
The thinking was he might quarantine Nate Sudfeld or Jalen Hurts just in case Carson Wentz were to test positive.
According to NFL Network’s Tom Peliserro, McCown will take on that role in Philly. He will remain in Texas where he’ll “essentially serve as a player-coach” for the Eagles. McCown won’t lead scout team or even travel to Philly unless he’s pressed into emergency service. It’s a genius move by Pederson.
Josh McCown wants to be a coach, and he’ll essentially be a player-coach — virtually — for the #Eagles in 2020 while making $12,000 a week on the practice squad. A smart insurance policy for Philly, and on-the-job training for McCown while living at home in Texas.
The most obvious candidate for this role had been presumptive third-stringer Jalen Hurts, although elevating a practice-squad quarterback was always an option. Nate Sudfeld would likely not be in that conversation since he’ll be needed to back up Carson Wentz. Again, strange times.
“Right now, because our protocols that are in place are working, [and] the league protocols [are working]. We haven’t divided that room up,” Pederson said. “We’re still in that room. We are practicing the social distancing in the rooms. We’re staying away from each other as much as we can there. Doing a lot of things virtually.
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Eagles Practice Squad Tracker: UCF Speedster, Fan Favorite QB Added