Long snapper Jon Dorenbos (wrist), guard/tackle Matt Tobin (knee) and running back Wendell Smallwood (knee) were placed on Injured Reserve on Monday effectively ending their 2016 seasons. Each of the three Eagles were injured in Sunday's loss to Washington.
With the open spots on the active roster, the Eagles signed cornerback Dwayne Gratz, formerly of the Rams and Jaguars, and long snapper Rick Lovato, who previously played for the Packers and Redskins.
Gratz is a former third-round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars, who hails from safety Malcolm Jenkins' hometown of Piscataway, New Jersey. He was most recently with the Los Angeles Rams.
The 5-11, 199-pound Gratz was drafted in 2013 out of UConn. He played in 10 games (8 starts) as a rookie and tied for the team lead with two interceptions. He became a full-time starter in 2014 and started 13 out of the 15 games that he played in. Gratz posted a career-high 55 tackles that season. He was released by the Jaguars this past October and claimed by the Rams, with whom he played three games with.
Lovato was a rookie in 2015 who landed with the Packers in a similar situation like he is in now in Philadelphia. A Middletown, New Jersey native, Lovato was signed late last year after an injury to the primary long snapper Brett Goode. He was briefly with Washington earlier this season when long snapper Nick Sundberg was injured.
Dorenbos injured his wrist when he was hit during a punt in the third quarter. He underwent surgery Sunday night. Dorenbos' streak of 162 consecutive games played, which tied Harold Carmichael's franchise record, will come to an end Sunday against Baltimore.
Smallwood, a rookie fifth-round pick out of West Virginia, finishes up what was a promising rookie campaign with 312 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground. He also scored the NFL's first kickoff return touchdown of the season back in Week 6 against Washington.
Tobin was sent into action Sunday at right tackle after Allen Barbre suffered a hamstring injury. Tobin injured his knee on the next-to-last offensive play for the Eagles.
