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Philadelphia Eagles News & Rumors

RB Miles Sanders Eyeing New Eagles Deal

January 20th, 2023 at 3:56pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Eagles entered the 2022 campaign with significant expectations, and their performance during the regular season has Philadelphia positioned as Super Bowl contenders. A key member of the team’s offense is looking to parlay his production into a new contract once their playoff run is over.

Running back Miles Sanders is a pending free agent, which could put him in line to be one of the more sought-after players at the position this March. If he has his way, however, he will be able to remain with the Eagles in 2023 and beyond by virtue of signing a new deal.

The 25-year-old had a down year in terms of yardage totals in 2021 by virtue of missing time with an ankle injury. However, his 5.5 yards per carry average was a career best, showcasing his potential when healthy and leading to heightened expectations for the 2022 campaign. Sanders responded by comfortably setting new personal benchmarks in rushing yards (1,269) and touchdowns (11). Those figures ranked fifth and fourth in the NFL, respectively, and led to his first Pro Bowl selection.

Having showcased his potential, the former second-rounder has no doubt boosted his free agent value in the event he hits the open market. Sanders could join what is shaping up to be a loaded free agent class at the position, one which has in recent years become notably devalued. The lack of progress on contract talks with the Eagles last offseason, and his overall status relative to the league’s top tailbacks drove his career-year, though.

“We try to ignore all the stuff that’s being said about us, but we hear it, we see it,” Sanders said, via ESPN’s Tim McManus. “I just tuck it in… Especially when I’m training, I’m thinking like, ‘OK, I really don’t have no respect out here. Why don’t people respect me?’ Stuff like that going through my head. I just wanted to earn a lot of respect. And the only way I knew how to do that was work, work, work.”

The Eagles are currently projected to rank mid-pack in the league in terms of offseason cap space, and already have rotational backs Kenneth Gainwell and Trey Sermon under contract for 2023. Quarterback Jalen Hurts – who put himself in the MVP conversation this year with his own breakout performance – is also eligible for an extension, so talks on that front will undoubtedly be a top priority in the near future.

Sanders’ play in the postseason could affect his ranking in the pending free agent class, which could also include former Penn State teammate Saquon Barkley. Regardless of how the former (who added that he “loves” Philadelphia) fares in the divisional round this weekend, he will be a name to watch as the offseason begins to unfold.

NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/18/23

January 18th, 2023 at 8:30pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s reserve/futures deals:

Atlanta Falcons

Carolina Panthers

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

Philadelphia Eagles

  • DB Tristin McCollum

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

According to Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (via Twitter), there was a bit of competition for offensive lineman Kyle Hinton’s services. The 2020 seventh-round pick spent much of the season on the Vikings practice squad, and they looked to sign him to a reserve/futures contract. However, he ended up opting for the Falcons, who gave him an $100K signing bonus.

Jets Interview Nathaniel Hackett, Marcus Brady, Brian Johnson, Kevin Patullo For OC Position

January 18th, 2023 at 10:13am CST by Sam Robinson

The Jets’ offensive coordinator search now includes six interviews, including three with Eagles staffers. In addition to interviewing Darrell Bevell and Nick Caley, the Jets have spoken with Philadelphia staffers Brian Johnson and Kevin Patullo, Rich Cimini and Dianna Russini of ESPN.com note (Twitter links).

Johnson has been the Eagles’ quarterbacks coach for the past two seasons, while Patullo serves as Philly’s passing-game coordinator. The team has also spoken with former Colts OC Marcus Brady, Cimini adds. Although Brady is best known for his time in Indianapolis, he joined Philly’s staff several weeks ago.

The team is also meeting with Nathaniel Hackett, Russini tweets. Coming off one of the worst head coaching tenures in modern NFL history, Hackett has been an NFL play-caller for three teams over the past 10 years. He joins Bevell as the only former NFL play-callers on the radar for the Jets position thus far. Hackett is interviewing with the team Wednesday.

While Hackett has been an OC for the Bills, Jaguars and Packers, he is looking to bounce back from an ignominious Broncos tenure — one that ended with him becoming just the third first-year HC to be fired before season’s end since 1970. Hackett’s offense produced weekly letdowns in Denver. Russell Wilson‘s performance nosedived from his Seattle years, and issues with game management plagued the second-generation NFL coach as well. By the time the Broncos fired Hackett, he was neither calling plays nor managing the game.

Speculation pointed to the Broncos hiring Hackett with the hopes of luring Aaron Rodgers, who had been on their radar since early in the 2021 offseason. The four-time MVP instead signed a Packers extension. However, he has recently reopened the trade door. Rodgers said his Packers future is not entirely up to him anymore and has broached the subject of the team dealing him and pivoting to Jordan Love. GM Brian Gutekunst pushed back on this, but Rodgers could be in trade rumors for a third straight offseason. The Jets are prepared to pay up for a veteran to better complement their improved defense, and Rodgers had two of his best seasons with Hackett as Green Bay’s OC. The future Hall of Famer has spoken highly of Hackett, who has a history with Robert Saleh from their time in Jacksonville.

Brady spent five seasons on Frank Reich‘s Colts staff, rising from quarterbacks coach to OC once the Eagles hired Nick Sirianni in 2021. Brady did not call plays in Indianapolis, however, with Reich doing so throughout his tenure. But the former CFL quarterback has OC experience north of the border as well, serving in that role for the Toronto Argonauts from 2012-17.

Jalen Hurts‘ progress has both reflected well on Johnson and Patullo. The Eagles have relied on Hurts’ rushing talents since he took over as their starter, but he made strides as a passer this season. Johnson has been Hurts’ position coach for the past two seasons, coming over after a short stay as Florida’s OC. Johnson was also Dak Prescott‘s position coach at Mississippi State. The Colts’ wide receivers coach from 2018-20, Patullo has held the pass-game coordinator role with the Eagles throughout Sirianni’s Philly tenure.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/17/23

January 17th, 2023 at 8:00pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s practice squad transactions:

Buffalo Bills

Kansas City Chiefs

Philadelphia Eagles

Latest On Jets’ OC Search

January 15th, 2023 at 11:49am CST by Adam La Rose

JANUARY 15: The Jets are interviewing Marcus Brady today, per Rapoport (via Twitter).

JANUARY 14: The Jets made headlines earlier in the week when they parted ways with offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur. That leaves the team with a significant hole to fill on offense during the coming weeks, but there is no shortage of names being floated around with respect to his potential replacements.

The early favorite appears to be Darrell Bevell. The Dolphins’ quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator represents the name mentioned most often for the Jets’ OC vacancy, Connor Hughes of SNY tweets. The 52-year-old is in his first season with Miami, but spent the previous 15 campaigns as an offensive coordinator. That tenure included a stint as the Seahawks’ OC from 2012 to 2017, which earned him a Super Bowl ring.

That time also included overlap with current Jets head coach Robert Saleh, who was a defensive assistant at the time. Bevell saw time with the Vikings as their OC prior to his Seattle stint, and occupied the same role with the Lions and Jaguars. His experience as an interim head coach with the latter two teams – coupled with his role in revitalizing the Dolphins’ offense this year – has made him a potential HC candidate in this year’s cycle.

While it remains to be seen if New York will interview Bevell for the position, they have done so with Eagles passing game coordinator Kevin Patullo, reports NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter). The meeting took place yesterday, as Patullo prepares to continue his work with the NFC’s top seed. He has been with Philadelphia for the past two seasons, after a three-year stint alongside Nick Sirianni with the Colts in a similar role; he also spent one season with Gang Green prior to that.

The Jets have also requested an interview with Nick Caley, per Pelissero’s colleague Ian Rapoport (Twitter link). He is currently the Patriots’ tight ends coach, a title he has held since 2017. The 39-year-old has exclusively worked in New England during his NFL coaching career, but he spent a decade in the college ranks prior to joining Bill Belichick‘s staff in 2015. Rapoport had previously named Caley as a name to watch, alongside Eagles QBs coach Brian Johnson and former Colts OC Marcus Brady (Twitter link).

Meanwhile, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer tweets that Bills QBs coach Joe Brady is another potential candidate. He notes that the Jets are “doing homework” on the 33-year-old, who was highly-touted after his work in college (particularly with LSU) when he took on the Panthers’ OC job in 2020. That, much like Matt Rhule‘s tenure in Charlotte, did not go according to plan, however, and he was fired midway through his second season with the team. Brady was hired by the Bills shortly thereafter, as he began the process of rebuilding his stock.

Each of the above names comprise a list of candidates along with the likes of ex-Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett, Rams offensive assistant Greg Olson and Chiefs QBs coach Matt Nagy. That trio, according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, could all be in the mix, though he adds (via Twitter) that veteran Gary Kubiak is not expected to be a part of the Jets’ search. New York’s process of replacing LaFleur will be worth watching as the team looks to take another step forward on offense in 2023.

Browns To Interview Eagles’ Dennard Wilson For DC Job

January 14th, 2023 at 8:51am CST by Ben Levine

We can add another name to the list of Browns defensive coordinator candidates. The Browns are planning on interviewing Eagles defensive pass game coordinator Dennard Wilson for the job, according to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports (on Twitter). The interview is expected to take place today, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com (on Twitter).

[RELATED: Browns Request DC Interviews With Brian Flores, Jim Schwartz]

Wilson joined the Eagles in 2021 as a defensive backs coach before earning the title of defensive passing game coordinator for the 2022 campaign. Philly’s defense ended up allowing the fewest passing yards in the NFL while finishing top-five in interceptions, with C.J. Gardner‑Johnson finishing in a tie for the league-lead with six.

Pro Football Focus was especially fond of the team’s secondary in 2022. The site ranked three Eagles (James Bradberry, Darius Slay, Avonte Maddox) among their top-35 cornerbacks (122 qualifiers). Safety Reed Blankenship also earned a top-15 ranking at safety among 89 qualifying players. Thanks to a strong performance from the Eagles defense as a whole, Wilson will now have an opportunity for a promotion.

Shortly after firing three-year defensive play-caller Joe Woods, the Browns compiled a list of defensive coordinator candidates. The targets include Steelers linebackers coach Brian Flores, Seahawks associate HC Sean Desai, and former HC Jim Schwartz. Cleveland also reached out to Patriots linebackers coach Jerod Mayo, but he declined the interview and continues to negotiate a new deal with New England. Flores and Schwartz have already interview for the job; it’s uncertain when (or if) Desai will speak with the organization.

Eagles RT Lane Johnson Eyeing Divisional Round Return

January 13th, 2023 at 3:57pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Eagles will have the luxury of watching the NFC’s Wild-Card matchups this weekend as the postseason begins, as a result of their success in clinching the conference’s No. 1 seed in Week 18. Their bye week will allow a key member of their offense to continue healing, potentially in time for a return next week.

Right tackle Lane Johnson has progressed during rehab from his adductor injury to the point where he expects to play in Philadelphia’s Divisional Round matchup. That news comes as little surprise given his decision to put off surgery – something which would have left him sidelined until the 2023 campaign – but it is nevertheless a significant development for the Super Bowl contenders.

The 32-year-old suffered the injury in Week 16, and has been pushing to rehab it ever since. Doing so will primarily be a matter of pain management, something which will only truly be tested during full-contact drills next week. Encouragingly, though, Johnson was able to return to the practice field on Friday for the first time since going down. His remarks today suggest he will be able to suit up if everything goes according to plan in the coming days.

“Excited about today being back out there practicing,” he said, via NBC Sports’ Reuben Frank. “Felt good. The goal was to keep testing it and progressing. Made a lot of progress this week and trying to have a regular week next week and see how I feel.”

Johnson was named a first-team All-Pro for the second time in his career today, adding further to his individual accolades and underscoring his importance to the Eagles’ offense. The four-time Pro Bowler confirmed his continued status as one of the league’s top tackles by generating a sterling PFF grade of 89.8 in pass protection, making him an integral part of the Eagles’ highly efficient attack. In his place, the team turned to Jack Driscoll at right tackle, but their preference would obviously be a return from Johnson at anywhere near 100%.

Philadelphia enjoyed the return of quarterback Jalen Hurts last week; the same is true of defenders C.J. Gardner-Johnson and defensive end Robert Quinn after they were activated from IR. Assuming Johnson will be able to play for the postseason, the Eagles could be well-positioned to live up to the potential they showed over the course of a hugely successful regular season.

“The timing of the injury wasn’t great,” Johnson added, “but the only reason I’m coming back is because I think we have a chance to be something special. That’s my reason.”

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