Two players who have helped the Eagles get to this point in the season with their work on the practice squad will have a chance to contribute down the stretch as members of the 53-man active roster. Defensive tackle Jeff Owens, a seventh-round pick by the Eagles in the 2010 draft, and defensive back Jamar Wall, a rookie out of Texas Tech, were signed to the active roster Tuesday.
Wall essentially takes the roster spot created by Nate Allen's placement on injured reserve. The starting free safety had his season ended Sunday when he suffered a torn patellar tendon. To make room for Owens on the roster, the Eagles released tight end Garrett Mills, who was signed to the active roster in Week 2.
Owens (6-1, 304), who has spent the full season on the team's practice squad, played collegiately at Georgia, where he was a defensive co-captain and started in 37 of 52 games and recorded 102 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 13 tackles for a loss and four quarterback hurries. He was one of just 11 players in the NCAA FBS ranks to receive 2009 Allstate American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team accolades. He is now one of five defensive tackles on the roster. He will wear No. 64.
Wall (5-10, 202) has spent the last 11 weeks on the Eagles practice squad. Originally a sixth-round draft choice of the Dallas Cowboys in 2010, Wall was released prior to the start of the season, but was claimed by the Houston Texans and played in the season opener, logging one special teams tackle. He was released in late September and signed to the Eagles practice squad the following day. A native of Plainview, TX., the 22-year-old Wall played collegiately at Texas Tech, where he registered 186 tackles, nine interceptions, 34 pass breakups and two forced fumbles in 50 games (38 starts). He earned second-team All-Big 12 Conference honors following the 2007 and 2008 seasons. He will wear No. 37.
Safety Jamar Adams (6-2, 212), who was briefly on the practice squad earlier in the season, was re-signed to the practice squad.
-- Posted by Bo Wulf, 1:52 p.m., December 21
