Eagles Place Nakobe Dean On IR, Bring Back Nicholas Morrow
A few teams have turned to Nicholas Morrow as a regular starter, but the veteran linebacker has been unable to secure much in the way of financial commitments in free agency. He has spent most of this season with the Bills as a backup, before being waived earlier this month.
Nakobe Dean‘s season-ending injury will earn Morrow another opportunity, marking a familiar development. The Eagles are bringing Morrow back, per NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo. Dean 2023 injuries kept Morrow with a regular role in Philly, and the team will turn to familiarity late in the season. This is a practice squad deal.
The Eagles placed Dean on IR after he suffered a torn patellar tendon during the Packers game; that malady may well lead to Dean missing time to start the 2025 season. Dean battled multiple foot ailments in 2023, leading to two IR stints and only five games played. After the Eagles stashed Dean as a backup during their NFC championship season in 2022, injuries are otherwise defining the former third-rounder’s rookie contract. Dean finishes this season with 128 tackles and three sacks; Pro Football Focus ranked him 12th among off-ball linebackers.
Dean has not been the Eagles’ top LB success story this year; that honor goes to Zack Baun, who morphed from a player who researched recent special teams contracts (via Yahoo.com’s Jori Epstein) into a first-team All-Pro. The Eagles initially viewed Baun as a rotational edge rusher, per ESPN.com’s Tim McManus, but he has boosted his value tremendously as a traditional off-ball LB this season. The former Saints third-rounder will be counted on as the Eagles attempt to book a second Super Bowl berth in three seasons.
Morrow initially caught on with the Eagles after a full-season run as a Bears starter, but that season only fetched a one-year, $1.2MM deal. Philly had viewed Morrow as a potential starter heading into their 2023 camp but then cut him weeks later. Morrow resurfaced on Philly’s P-squad that September and became Dean’s primary replacement soon after. Last season, Morrow started 12 games and made 95 tackles — a career-high 12 for loss — but the Eagles changed up at linebacker this past offseason to lead him to Buffalo. The Division III success story, who has made 58 career starts, played in 11 Bills games as a backup.
The Eagles also moved Parris Campbell back to their 53-man roster to take Dean’s place and added wide receiver Elijah Cooks to their practice squad. The team released wideout Joseph Ngata from its taxi squad.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/10/25
Friday’s practice squad moves:
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: WR Joseph Ngata
- Placed on practice squad injured list: OL Jack Driscoll
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/5/24
As the 2024 season kicks off, here are the day’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Removed from IR via injury settlement: DB Josh Thompson
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed from practice squad: LB Josh Ross
- Elevated: CB Ka’dar Hollman, RB John Kelly
- Placed on IR: RB Rasheen Ali
- Removed from IR via injury settlement: WR Isaiah Washington
Carolina Panthers
- Removed from IR via injury settlement: LB Cam Gill
Chicago Bears
- Removed from IR via injury settlement: WR Dante Pettis
Las Vegas Raiders
- Removed from IR via injury settlement: DL Ron Stone Jr.
Miami Dolphins
- Removed from IR via injury settlement: OL Ryan Hayes
New York Giants
- Released: LB Carter Coughlin
Philadelphia Eagles
- Removed from IR via injury settlement: WR Joseph Ngata
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed off Cardinals’ practice squad: DL Ben Stille
- Placed on IR: DL Earnest Brown
- Removed from IR via injury settlement: LB Shaun Peterson, DL Lwal Uguak
Tennessee Titans
- Removed from IR via injury settlement: LB JoJo Domann
Washington Commanders
- Removed from IR via injury settlement: DT Taylor Stallworth
The Ravens drafted Ali in this year’s fifth round. He entered the week joining Derrick Henry and Justice Hill as running backs on Baltimore’s 53-man roster. Kelly has since replaced him as Baltimore’s RB3. He will now join Keaton Mitchell as being on an injured list; the latter remains on the Ravens’ reserve/PUP list, sidelining him for at least four games. This designation shelves Ali for that period as well. The Ravens could use one of their injury activations to bring Ali back to the roster at that point.
Eagles Cut Down Roster To 53 Players
The Eagles are hoping to rebound from a disappointing end to their 2023 campaign. Before they can do that, the team had to make some tough roster decisions as they got down to 53 players. The team announced the following moves:
Released:
- LB Oren Burks
- WR Parris Campbell
- OL Nick Gates
- OL Matt Hennessy
- WR John Ross
- OL Brett Toth
Waived:
- OL Gottlieb Ayedze
- OT Anim Dankwah
- RB Tyrion Davis-Price
- TE Kevin Foelsch
- DT Gabe Hall
- WR Griffin Hebert
- DE Tarron Jackson
- TE E.J. Jenkins
- CB Josh Jobe
- OLB Terrell Lewis
- C Dylan McMahon
- CB Zech McPhearson
- RB Kendall Milton
- DT P.J. Mustipher
- RB Lew Nichols
- OL Jason Poe
- TE Armani Rogers
- S Andre Sam
- LB Brandon Smith
- CB Shon Stephens
- OT Laekin Vakalahi
- WR Austin Watkins
Waived/injured:
- WR Jacob Harris
- WR Joseph Ngata
- S Caden Sterns
Placed on IR (designated for return):
- TE Albert Okwuegbunam (story)
- WR Ainias Smith (story)
Placed on reserve/PUP:
After carrying only four wideouts on their initial 53-man roster in 2023, the team is carrying five WRs heading into 2024. Still, some notable names earned their walking papers today. Parris Campbell is only two years removed from a 63-catch season with the Colts, but the wideout was limited to only 20 receptions with the Giants in 2023. John Ross continues to get opportunities by virtue of his first-round billing, but the former ninth-overall pick hasn’t seen the field since a 10-game showing with the Giants in 2021.
Oren Burks missed a chunk of the summer with an injury, but his release is still a bit of a surprise. The former third-round pick spent the past two seasons with the 49ers, where he started eight of his 32 appearances. The veteran has also made a name for himself on special teams, where he’s averaged more than 277 snaps per season.
WR Notes: Texans, Patriots, Eagles, Cardinals
It’s easy to be excited about the Texans wide receiver corps in 2024. After Tank Dell and Nico Collins established a connection with C.J. Stroud in 2023, the organization added another major name in Stefon Diggs. With the Texans hoping to take a major step forward in 2024, the team can now boast that they’re armed with one of the best WR trios in the NFL.
One of the other players on the depth chart, Steven Sims, has gotten a first-hand look at his talented teammates, and he believes Houston’s wideouts are ready for some big plays during the upcoming campaign.
“We’ve got a great group,” Sims told Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston. “I can’t wait to get back to camp. It’s going to be so much fun. I feel like there’s going to be a lot of big plays, a lot of fun, but it’s a business and it’s work. It’s time to get back to work and I’m excited to go back to work with the group we’ve got I feel like from top to bottom everybody can get it done.”
Sims re-signed with the Texans this offseason after getting into three games with the team in 2023. He’ll be competing with the likes of John Metchie III and Ben Skowronek for reps behind the team’s top-three WRs.
More wideout notes from around the NFL…
- Tom E. Curran of NBC Sports Boston explores some of the Patriots wideout scenarios for the 2024 campaign, including the best-case scenario (which sees rookie Ja’Lynn Polk and second-year wideout DeMario Douglas break out) and the worst-case scenario (the team’s over-reliance on veterans JuJu Smith-Schuster and Kendrick Bourne). Curran believes the most-likely scenario is a bit of both, with the organization allowing the young players to show their stuff, especially as Bourne works his way back from a torn ACL. Curran says the team’s main wildcard at the position is free agent acquisition K.J. Osborn, who has already developed chemistry with presumed starting QB Jacoby Brissett.
- Joseph Ngata spent the majority of his rookie campaign on Philly’s practice squad, and Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia believes the former UDFA is set to make the Eagles 53-man roster in 2024. As Zangaro notes, Ngata got some first-team reps during the spring,and he’s clearly ahead of some of the team’s other young wideouts. Parris Campbell is the likeliest of Philly’s non-star WRs to emerge, but Ngata should have an upper hand on fifth-round rookie Ainias Smith and sixth-round rookie Johnny Wilson.
- Jess Root of Cards Wire notes that Cardinals undrafted rookie WR Xavier Weaver is likely to stick with the organization by virtue of his contract. The Colorado product got $225K in guaranteed money from Arizona, the equivalent to 18 weeks of practice squad salary. If the rookie is eventually waived, it’s unlikely a cash-strapped suitor would willingly add him to their 53-man roster. With four WR spots locked up in Arizona (Marvin Harrison Jr., Michael Wilson, Greg Dortch, and Zay Jones), Weaver will be hard pressed to earn a regular roster gig, but the Cardinals’ financial commitment shows they plan to keep the WR around their practice squad for the 2024 campaign.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/18/24
Here are Thursday’s reserve/futures deals:
Los Angeles Rams
- K Tanner Brown
Philadelphia Eagles
- DT Thomas Booker, OL Le’Raven Clark, WR Shaq Davis, DT Noah Elliss, S Mekhi Garner, CB Mario Goodrich, WR Jacob Harris, WR Griffin Hebert, DE Tarron Jackson, TE E.J. Jenkins, DE Terrell Lewis, S Tristin McCollum, CB Tiawan Mullen, WR Joseph Ngata, RB Lew Nichols, G Jason Poe, LB Brandon Smith, OL Lecitus Smith, OL Brett Toth, WR Austin Watkins
Washington Commanders
- WR Brycen Tremayne
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/7/23
Today’s practice squad moves:
Chicago Bears
- Signed: C Matt Farniok
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: LB Kyron Johnson, CB Tiawan Mullen
- Released: WR Joseph Ngata, TE Brady Russell
Matt Farniok brings some experience to Chicago’s practice squad. The offensive lineman saw time in 19 games for the Cowboys over the past two seasons, including a pair of starts. The former seventh-round pick also has some special teams experience.
Kyron Johnson got into 16 games for the Eagles in 2022, with the majority of his snaps coming on special teams. He finished the season with eight tackles.
Wednesday NFL Transactions: NFC East
Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These Commanders, Cowboys, Eagles and Giants moves are noted below.
Dallas Cowboys
Signed:
- T Chuma Edoga, LS Trent Sieg
Claimed:
Waived:
Placed on IR:
- OL Matt Waletzko, CB Nahshon Wright
Signed to practice squad:
- T Earl Bostick, CB Josh Butler, WR Jalen Cropper, RB Malik Davis, TE Princeton Fant, CB C.J. Goodwin, OL Sean Harlow, C Brock Hoffman, LB Malik Jefferson, DB Durrell Johnson, WR Tyron Johnson, TE Sean McKeon, DB Sheldrick Redwine, T Alex Taylor-Prioleau, DE Tyrus Wheat
New York Giants
Claimed:
Waived:
Signed to practice squad:
- DT Ryder Anderson, WR Cole Beasley (story), LB Darrian Beavers, DB Alex Cook, QB Tommy Devito, LB Tomon Fox, DB Gemon Green, LB Dyontae Johnson, TE Ryan Jones, CB Amani Oruwariye (story), OL Tyre Phillips, LB Oshane Ximines
Philadelphia Eagles
Claimed:
Waived:
Signed to practice squad:
- WR Devon Allen, WR Britain Covey, CB Mekhi Garner, G Julian Good-Jones, DE Tarron Jackson, LB Kyron Johnson, S Tristin McCollum, WR Joseph Ngata, TE Brady Russell, P Arryn Siposs, T Brett Toth, LB Ben VanSumeren, WR Greg Ward
Washington Commanders
Claimed:
Waived:
Signed to practice squad:
- T Alex Akingbulu, WR Kazmeir Allen, FB Alex Armah, DE William Bradley-King, G Mason Brooks, S Terrell Burgess, CB Tariq Castro-Fields, QB Jake Fromm, LB Jabril Cox, RB Derrick Gore, LB De’Jon Harris, T Jaryd Jones-Smith, C Nolan Laufenberg, DT Benning Potoa’e, WR Brycen Tremayne, CB Nick Whiteside
Eagles Set 53-Man Roster
The Eagles released linebacker Nicholas Morrow and waived running back Trey Sermon today, and they’ve now cut a number of young players to get down to the 53-man roster limit:
Waived:
- WR Devon Allen
- LB Quinton Bell
- QB Ian Book
- RB Kennedy Brooks
- DT Robert Cooper
- WR Britain Covey
- CB Mekhi Garner
- G Julian Good-Jones
- WR Jadon Haselwood
- DE Tarron Jackson
- TE Tyree Jackson
- LB Kyron Johnson
- WR Johnny King
- LB Tyreek Maddox-Williams
- S Tristin McCollum
- WR Joseph Ngata
- DE Janarius Robinson
- G TyreseRobinson
- TE Brady Russell
- DT Olive Sagapolu
- DT Caleb Sanders
- CB Josiah Scott
- G Josh Sills
- P Arryn Siposs
- WR Freddie Swain
- LB Ben VanSumeren
- S K’Von Wallace
- WR Greg Ward
- DT Marvin Wilson
Released from IR:
Devon Allen is two-time Olympian hurdler, and after having played college football for Oregon between 2013 and 2016, he caught on with the Eagles last offseason. He spent most of the 2022 campaign on Philly’s practice squad, and there’s a chance he’s destined for the same gig again in 2023.
Britain Covey is another subtraction from the WRs room, although the 26-year-old played only 19 snaps on offense for the Eagles in 2022. He had a much larger role on special teams, where he returned 10 kicks for 206 yards and 33 punts for 308 yards.
Eagles Add Nine UDFAs
Before kicking off rookie minicamp yesterday, the Eagles announced the signing of nine undrafted first-year players:
- CB Mekhi Garner (LSU)
- WR Jadon Haselwood (Arkansas)
- WR Joseph Ngata (Clemson)
- T Chim Okorafor (Benedictine)
- T Trevor Reid (Louisville)
- CB Eli Ricks (Alabama)
- TE Brady Russell (Colorado)
- LB Ben VanSumeren (Michigan State)
- P Ty Zentner (Kansas State)
After not adding any skill players during the draft, the Eagles signed a pair of wide receivers in Jadon Haselwood and Joseph Ngata. After transferring to Arkansas, Haselwood led the team with 59 receptions during the 2022 campaign. Ngata got into 45 games during his four seasons at Clemson, hauling in 1,287 receiving yards and six touchdowns.
Tight end Brady Russell has a personal connection to the Eagles, as his uncle, Matt Russell, is the team’s senior personnel director/advisor to the general manager. A team captain at Colorado, the UDFA finished his collegiate career having caught 67 passes and six touchdowns.
Chim Okorafor and Ty Zentner both took unusual paths to get on an NFL roster. He played two seasons of collegiate basketball before bouncing around football programs at Riverside City Community College, Missouri Southern, Pitt State, and finally Benedictine. Zentner only started playing football during his senior year of high school, and after starting his college career at Butler Community College, he caught on with Kansas State University. He served as both a punter and kicker during his time at the school.