The Philadelphia Eagles are placing wide receiver / punt returner Britain Covey on injured reserve. Covey injured his shoulder against the New Orleans Saints Week 3, and had his left arm in a sling in the locker room after the game.
Covey has been the team's primary punt returner since 2022. He was arguably the best punt returner in the NFL last season. As a receiver, Covey hasn't gotten many opportunities in the regular offense, but he started to get a little bit of a role this season. In the first three games, he had 7 catches for 34 yards. He previously only had 4 catches in the first two years of his NFL career.
In the game against the Saints, Cooper DeJean took over for Covey at punt returner.
"He did a good job in his career at Iowa," said special teams coordinator Michael Clay. "Very fundamentally sound. He tracks the ball very well in terms of seeing it off the punter's foot. Being thrust in there against a very good special teams unit, I don't think he blinked. He did a really good job with the fair catch down to the left. And he also showed that he could make a couple people miss down there. Getting that ball from the 9 to the 15 helped out in that field position and takes the pressure a little bit off the offense. They don't have to start backed up, a little bit more breathing room.
"We are going to get whoever we need ready to fill in that role. But again, Cooper, we're going to get him ready. Going to get his confidence up and hopefully, if he does have the opportunity, he's able to show his skill."
The Eagles have a bunch of injured wide receivers:
- A.J. Brown: Missed the last two games with a hamstring injury.
- DeVonta Smith: Left the Saints game with a concussion, and did not return.
- Britain Covey: Injured reserve.
- Johnny Wilson: Appeared on the injury report each of the last two games, but played in both of them.
Beyond those four receivers, the Eagles only have Jahan Dotson left on their active roster, though they did call up Parris Campbell from the practice squad in each of the last two games.
To fill the spot vacated by Covey, the Eagles signed TE Jack Stoll from the practice squad to the 53-man roster. They also signed John Ross to the practice squad. The Eagles have four receivers on their practice squad:
- Parris Campbell
- John Ross
- Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint
- Danny Gray
- Kyle Philips
Follow Jimmy & PhillyVoice on Twitter: @JimmyKempski | thePhillyVoice
Like us on Facebook: PhillyVoice Sports
Add Jimmy's RSS feed to your feed reader