The 49ers’ plan to stash Trey Sermon on their practice squad will not come to pass. The Eagles intervened via a waiver claim, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). Sermon will take the Philadelphia roster spot vacated by Wednesday’s Jalen Reagor trade.
Although Sermon flamed out quickly in San Francisco, he will head to a team that is coming off a season in which its rushing attack led the NFL. The Eagles will add the 2021 third-round pick to a backfield stable that includes Miles Sanders, Boston Scott and 2021 draftee Kenneth Gainwell.
The Eagles engaged in trade talks with the 49ers for Sermon last week, per Schefter, but nothing came to pass (Twitter link). San Francisco was holding one of its 16 practice squad slots for the back it traded up to land at No. 88 last year. But Sermon never quite escaped Kyle Shanahan‘s doghouse. He will attempt to start over in Philly.
Sermon, who was productive at both Oklahoma and Ohio State, is going into his age-23 season. He did average 4.1 yards per carry last season, but it came on just 41 handoffs. Sixth-round rookie Elijah Mitchell leapfrogged him by Week 1 of last season, and after it appeared Sermon was going to be a major part of San Francisco’s run game, he never gained a foothold in Shanahan’s offense. Despite Mitchell battling multiple injuries last season, Sermon started just two games and cleared 35 rushing yards in just one contest.
Philadelphia pivoted to its ground game midway through last season, and the Sanders- and Jalen Hurts-driven attack ended the campaign atop the league in rushing yards. It might be difficult for Sermon to carve out a regular role in Philly this season, though Sanders and Scott are going into contract years. Sermon, who averaged north of seven yards per tote in his junior and senior seasons (albeit with limited workloads), showing enough this year could earn him a bigger role down the line. Three years remain on Sermon’s rookie contract.
Good waiver pickup by the Eagles.
no, bad waiver pickup 🙂
nah, can confirm he’s ass
As a fan of the 49ers who saw him play . He wasn’t that good . How can you be a 3rd round pick and let a 6th round rb take the job from you
The 49ers media talked this guy up last year like he was the second coming (sort of like how the Chargers media talks up Justin Herbert), but so far he has not accomplished anything.
That’s… why they released him.
3rd round RB pick up for nothing not bad.
More competition at our weakest spot
Good depth for the Eagles especially since Sanders seems to get injured frequently.
Dude can’t even beat out 5th rd and undrafted rookie and Eagles fans say good pickup.. he’s trash.. he couldn’t excel in Shanahan run game then he’s sucks
He’s still a former third round pick the Eagles are getting without giving up an asset, if he doesn’t pan out all it is is money.
But he was drafted at least 3 rounds higher that he should have been. No one else wanted him and the 9ers could have drafted him much lower
Sounds like Trey Lance…
What if Lance succeeds?
At what they gave up to get him he should have already been showing some signs of success. But at least they held onto Jimmy G because they’re not so sure.
Yes, perhaps he was drafted higher than he should have been, but again, the Eagles are taking a flyer on a guy who is gonna get paid what, like $950k this year? If he doesn’t pan out, you can cut him and only incur the barest amount of dead money on your cap.
He got out played by a 6th round rb and this year he was being out played but a 3rd round rb and a undrafted one .
The Eagles OL is much better than the 49ers .. this is a low risk move that could pay off.
“Gainwell” is a pretty good name to have if you’re an RB…
Hey, does anyone know what criteria (stats) Reagor must reach for that higher pick to stay a 4th Rounder ?