Today is Jaylen Watkins‘ 23rd birthday, and he’s on the receiving end of a generous gift from his old club — the Eagles are bringing him back. As first reported by Dave Zangaro of CSNPhilly.com (Twitter link) and confirmed by the club (via Twitter), the Eagles have signed Watkins off the Bills’ practice squad, placing Nolan Carroll on injured reserve in a corresponding move.
Watkins, who was selected in the fourth round of the 2014 draft by the Eagles, played just four games for the team last year before being cut and finding his way to the Bills’ practice squad. It made sense for Watkins to land in Buffalo, where his brother Sammy Watkins plays, but given the opportunity to return to a 53-man roster, the young cornerback will head back to Philadelphia.
That opportunity in Philadelphia opened up when Carroll left Thursday’s game against the Lions with an injury that the team later confirmed was a broken ankle. As he heads to injured reserve, Carroll may have played his last game for the Eagles, who signed him to a two-year deal prior to the 2014 season. The 28-year-old figures to reach the open market this March.