Eagles Add RB Kerryon Johnson To Practice Squad
Kerryon Johnson is back in Philly. Following a brief stint with the organization earlier this season, the running back is rejoining the Eagles’ practice squad, according to Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer (on Twitter).
[RELATED: Latest On Eagles’ Miles Sanders]
With Miles Sanders sidelined and Jordan Howard banged up, the Eagles were looking for some healthy bodies to pair with Boston Scott and Kenneth Gainwell. So, they turned to Johnson, who spent much of the offseason with the organization. The running back landed on IR before being granted his release, and he managed to later catch on with the 49ers, appearing solely on special teams.
Johnson’s best season came during his rookie campaign, when he collected 854 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns on 150 touches. Over the next two seasons, Johnson only collected 898 yards from scrimmage on 194 touches, and he was ultimately waived by the team back in May.
The Eagles made a handful of additional practice squad moves today, including the signing of former Western Michigan offensive lineman Luke Juriga. The organization also released Matt McCrane and placed wideout John Hightower on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/25-12/26/21
Here are the league’s practice squad moves from Christmas and today:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: QB Kenji Bahar
- Released: C Jimmy Murray
New York Giants
- Released: LB Omari Cobb
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: K Matthew McCrane
- Released: C Luke Juriga
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: P Cameron Nizialek
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/1/21
Today’s taxi squad moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: S Blake Countess, DB Robert Jackson
- Placed on PS-IR: K Jake Verity
Chicago Bears
- Signed: DB Dee Virgin
Detroit Lions
- Signed: LB Curtis Bolton
- Released: T Darrin Paulo
New England Patriots
- Released: CB Thakarius Keyes
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: C Luke Juriga
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: LB Justin March, S Doug Middleton
- Released: S Kai Nacua
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: S Elijah Benton, WR Cade Johnson
Eagles Waive RB Kerryon Johnson
Kerryon Johnson has hit a career crossroads. The Eagles became the second team to waive the former second-round pick, doing so with an injury designation on Tuesday, per ESPN.com’s Field Yates (via Twitter).
The veteran running back suffered a knee injury in practice, Tim McManus of ESPN.com tweets. This sidetracked a possible role behind Miles Sanders. If Johnson clears waivers, he will revert to Philadelphia’s IR list. That taking place usually precedes an injury settlement, which would send the ex-Lions Round 2 draft choice to free agency.
The Eagles stopped Johnson from hitting free agency in early May, beating the Dolphins to the punch with a waiver claim. Johnson then agreed to a pay cut. While the Dolphins could still loom, with their running back room not oozing depth, the severity of Johnson’s knee malady will determine how soon another team gives him a shot.
One of several Lions second-round running back picks in the 2010s, Johnson flashed as a rookie by averaging 5.4 yards per carry and totaling 854 from scrimmage in 10 games. The first of his knee injuries stalled that momentum. Nothing the Auburn product has shown since has lived up to that rookie-year performance, leading the Lions to draft D’Andre Swift in last year’s second round and sign Jamaal Williams this year. Boston Scott remains Sanders’ top backup in Philly, with the team also rostering Jordan Howard and drafting Kenneth Gainwell in the fifth round.
In moving their roster down to the 85-man limit by the Tuesday deadline, the Eagles also waived tackle Casey Tucker and cut center Luke Juriga with an injury designation.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/3/20
Here is Saturday’s bevy of minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Promoted: RB Jonathan Ward, CB Jace Whittaker
Baltimore Ravens
- Promoted: CB Khalil Dorsey
Buffalo Bills
- Waived: RB Antonio Williams
Carolina Panthers
- Activated from IR: CB Eli Apple
- Promoted: RB Reggie Bonnafon, LB Chris Orr
- Waived: DE Shareef Miller
Chicago Bears
- Promoted: QB Tyler Bray
Dallas Cowboys
- Promoted: LB Francis Bernard
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Promoted: OL K.C. McDermott, S Doug Middleton, K Aldrick Rosas
Las Vegas Raiders
- Promoted: WR Keelan Doss, RB Theo Riddick
Los Angeles Chargers
- Promoted: WR Tyron Johnson, OL Cole Toner
Los Angeles Rams
- Promoted: S JuJu Hughes
Minnesota Vikings
- Promoted: S George Iloka
New Orleans Saints
- Promoted: OL Will Clapp, CB Ken Crawley, TE Garrett Griffin
- Placed on IR: LB Chase Hansen
New York Giants
- Promoted: WR Austin Mack
New York Jets
- Claimed (from Lions): RB Ty Johnson
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted: DB Grayland Arnold, WR Deontay Burnett, WR Travis Fulgham, C Luke Juriga, RB Adrian Killins
- Placed on IR: CB Trevor Williams
San Francisco 49ers
- Promoted: LB Joe Walker
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted: RB Kenjon Barner
Washington Football Team
- Promoted: G Joshua Garnett
Eagles Sign Josh McCown To Practice Squad
Well this is an unusual arrangement we didn’t see coming. The Eagles are signing veteran quarterback Josh McCown to their practice squad, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
Thanks to a new COVID-19 exception veterans will be able to serve on practice squads, making this possible. As Schefter notes, he’ll easily be the oldest practice squad player in NFL history. Making the situation even more unique, McCown won’t even be reporting to the team. Instead McCown will continue to live in Texas, earn a $12K weekly salary, and serve as Philly’s emergency quarterback remotely.
McCown’s lovable journeyman career has taken him all over the football world, so it feels right for him to blaze this unheard of trail. We had heard back in January the Eagles were talking about adding him to the coaching staff, and this is the next best thing.
After originally announcing his retirement in June of last year, he signed with Philly last August after they had a couple of injuries. After serving as Carson Wentz‘s backup and not starting a game he was suddenly thrown into the spotlight when Wentz went down in the Eagles’ first round playoff game against Seattle.
McCown came into the game cold off the bench and nearly led them to a miracle victory, tearing his hamstring in the process and playing through the injury.
The Eagles have Nate Sudfeld and Jalen Hurts behind Wentz now, but in these uncertain times it can’t hurt to have too much insurance. McCown has turned into a fan favorite over the course of his career that started in 2002 with the Cardinals, and this is a nice feather in his cap.
Here is Philly’s full practice squad:
- DB Grayland Arnold
- WR Deontay Burnett
- WR Travis Fulgham
- RB Elijah Holyfield
- C Luke Juriga
- DE Matt Leo*
- QB Josh McCown
- C Sua Opeta
- DE Joe Ostman
- DB Elijah Riley
- T Prince Tega Wanogho
- RB Michael Warren
- DT Raequan Williams
- DB Trevor Williams
- TE Caleb Wilson
* = international player
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/3/20
Here are Thursday’s minor moves, with the list being updated throughout the day:
Atlanta Falcons
- Released from IR via injury settlement: TE Khari Lee
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: RB Antonio Williams
Carolina Panthers
- Placed on IR: WR Tommylee Lewis
Cincinnati Bengals
- Waived: T O’Shea Dugas, LB Brady Sheldon and DE Bryce Sterk
Cleveland Browns
- Waived: S J.T. Hassell, CB Donnie Lewis, WR J’Mon Moore, DT Ricky Walker
Indianapolis Colts
- Waived: WR Artavis Scott
New England Patriots
- Waived: CB Michael Jackson
- Waived/injured: DT Michael Barnett
Philadelphia Eagles
- Placed on IR: T Andre Dillard
- Waived: DB Grayland Arnold, WR Manasseh Bailey, WR Deontay Burnett, WR Travis Fulgham, G Julian Good-Jones, WR Marcus Green, RB Elijah Holyfield, C Luke Juriga, RB Adrian Killins, DB Elijah Riley, TE Tyrone Swoopes, RB Michael Warren
San Francisco 49ers
- Released: CB Jamar Taylor
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DE Damontre Moore
- Waived: WR Seth Dawkins, DE Pita Taumoepenu
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Released: DT Kyle Love
Eagles Sign 12 UDFAs
The Eagles are one of the first teams to finalize their priority free agent class after the virtual draft. Here is Philadelphia’s UDFA group:
- Grayland Arnold, DB (Baylor)
- Manasseh Bailey, WR (Morgan State)
- Julian Good-Jones, G (Iowa State)
- Michael Jacquet, DB (Louisiana)
- Luke Juriga, C (Western Michigan)
- Adrian Killins, RB (Central Florida)
- Dante Olson, LB (Montana)
- Elijah Riley, DB (Army)
- Prince Smith, DB (New Hampshire)
- Noah Togiai, TE (Oregon State)
- Michael Warren, RB (Cincinnati)
- Raequan Williams, DT (Michigan State)
Olson may have a decent path to the active roster or practice squad spots. Although the Eagles drafted two linebackers, their group remains uncertain. Olson comes in with quite a pedigree at the Division I-FCS level, winning the Buck Buchanan award — given to D-I-FCS’ best defensive player — last season. The Eagles lost Nigel Bradham this offseason.
Good-Jones started 49 games at Iowa State, setting a school record. A second-team All-American as a redshirt junior, Arnold played mostly in the slot at Baylor. He declared for the draft early. Bailey began his college career as a linebacker, making the odd transition to wide receiver. Killins goes only 5-foot-7, 162 pounds but earned first- or second-team All-American Athletic Conference acclaim in each of his three Central Florida seasons.
The Eagles guaranteed $116K of Juriga’s league-minimum salary, per the Houston Chronicle’s Aaron Wilson (on Twitter). This includes a $16K signing bonus. Togiai received $100K guaranteed, while Warren will be guaranteed $57.5K guaranteed, per Wilson (Twitter links).