Plus: Some other transaction news.
The Philadelphia Eagles officially announced some practice squad news on Tuesday evening.
LE’RAVEN CLARK
First, the team placed veteran offensive tackle Le’Raven Clark on the practice squad/injured list. How he got hurt and the severity of his injury is currently unclear. His absence hurts the Eagles’ tackle depth, though. He’s a more inspiring option right now than Andre Dillard despite the fact the latter is on the roster. The Eagles will hope he heals up soon so he’s ready if they need him.
HARRY CRIDER
In a corresponding move, the Eagles re-signed undrafted rookie free agent center Harry Crider. He gives the Eagles an extra o-line practice body with Clark unavailable. He could easily be gone when Clark is ready to return.
The Eagles also placed protections on the following four practice squad players to ensure that they can’t be poached away ahead of their Week 2 game against the San Francisco 49ers: safety Elijah Riley, cornerback Craig James, guard/tackle Kayode Awosika, and defensive tackle Marvin Wilson.
ELIJAH RILEY
The Eagles also protected Riley in Week 1. It was curious that the team didn’t use a temporarily elevation on him with Rodney McLeod ruled out on Friday’s final injury report. The Eagles played with fire by keeping Anthony Harris, Marcus Epps, and K’Von Wallace, as the only three safeties on the game day roster. (They do also have Andre Chachere on the team but he’s not necessarily a full-time safety and he’s also new to the Eagles.)
With McLeod potentially out again and Epps potentially missing Week 2 with a concussion, protecting Riley makes sense. The Eagles might need to elevate him for the extra safety depth. Doesn’t hurt that he can also help on special teams.
CRAIG JAMES
The guess here is that the Eagles protecting James doesn’t necessarily have to do with adding corner depth to Sunday’s roster as much as it is a special teams move. With J.J. Arcega-Whiteside day-to-day with an ankle issue, the Eagles could have some snaps to fill. And James has been a good special teams contributor in the past. He was actually a special teams co-captain last season.
KAYODE AWOSIKA
Using a protection on Awosika seems to be about preventing teams from poaching a player with long-term potential. Clark’s injury could’ve also prompted the desire to make sure Awosika sticks around.
MARVIN WILSON
Wilson’s likely in a similar boat to Awosika. The Eagles want to protect him because they value his long-term potential, not because he’s about to be elevated for Sunday’s game.
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Note that Jordan Howard and John Hightower were not protected like they previously were ahead of Week 1.
See below for a current look at the Eagles’ 2021 practice squad.
Format: Position, player, (times protected this season), [times elevated this season]*
*Not counting COVID-19 elevations.
S Elijah Riley (2)
G/T Kayode Awosika (1)
DT Marvin Wilson (1)
CB Craig James (1)
RB Jordan Howard (1)
WR John Hightower (1)
C Harry Crider
RB Jason Huntley
WR KeeSean Johnson
WR Travis Fulgham
TE Nick Eubanks
C/G Ross Pierschbacher
OG Sua Opeta
DT Raequan Williams
LB JaCoby Stevens
CB Michael Jacquet III
{DE Matt Leo — international exemption – doesn’t count towards limit}
PRACTICE SQUAD/INJURED
OT Le’Raven Clark (1)