The expectation is Briain Covey will Return Punts vs Detroit Lions

It appears probably that Britain Covey shall be returning punts for the Eagles in Detroit when the season begins on Sunday towards what appears to be like like a feisty Lions staff.

Head coach Nick Sirianni stated on Thursday there are alternatives, however it appears to be like like just one.

Proper now, Covey, the undrafted free agent from Utah, is the one one with any expertise, and that got here solely in faculty. He’s on the follow squad.

The very last thing the Eagles need is to rehash the 2007 journey they took to Inexperienced Bay when Greg Lewis muffed a punt that led to a Packers landing and, with lower than a minute to play, J.R. Reed stepped up into visitors and muffed the catch. Inexperienced Bay recovered and kicked a 42-yard area aim to notch a 16-13 win.

Neither Lewis nor Reed had ever returned a punt within the NFL till making an attempt to do it that day. Their two muffs value the Eagles 10 factors.

There’s no Greg Ward round to do the job this yr. He was positioned on Reserve Injured with a toe harm.

There’s no Jalen Reagor, who had 31 punts returners final yr however is now in Minnesota the place he’ll in all probability be the Vikings’ punt returner.

Operating again Boston Scott has some expertise doing it. He fielded six punts in 2019 for Doug Pederson and had 43 yards on these six returns.

The Eagles by no means tried utilizing Devon Allen to return punts, maybe not desirous to overload him with duty as he makes the transition from Olympic hurdler to NFL receiver. So, he’s not an possibility.

That leaves just one participant, and it’s Covey except GM Howie Roseman can discover anyone on the waiver wire he feels strongly about or could make some low-level commerce to deliver one in.

Covey doesn’t must be added to the 53-man roster, so no transfer can be required so as to add him to the 53-man roster.

A participant will be elevated from the follow squad a most of thrice earlier than a choice must be made so as to add him to the roster. That’s up from a most of two gamers final yr.

The Eagles might need to add him to the 53, although.

They run the chance of probably dropping him ought to a staff determine so as to add him to their 53-man roster. If one other staff had been to do this, they would wish to maintain him on their 53-man roster for no less than three video games.

The excellent news, although, is that the Eagles can announce as much as 4 protected follow squad gamers on Tuesday after they return to work.

A case may very well be made so as to add Covey to the energetic roster, anyway, for the reason that Eagles have simply 4 receivers on the 53 now.

One choice to open a spot on the 53 can be to put CB Josh Jobe on Reserve/Injured.

The UDFA cornerback has missed the previous few practices with an elbow harm. He must miss at the very least 4 video games, earlier than being eligible to return.

It might be a safer play than releasing somebody from the energetic roster ought to the Eagles select to do this with Covey or a waiver wire/commerce risk.

Ed Kracz is the writer of SI.com’s Fan Nation Eagles In the present day and co-host of the Eagles Unfiltered Podcast. Take a look at the most recent Eagles information at www.SI.com/NFL/Eagles or www.eaglesmaven.com and please comply with him on Twitter: @kracze.