Head coach Doug Pederson and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said this week that they want more production out of the linebacker position. On Wednesday, the Eagles decided to give a player who has been honing his craft on the practice squad an opportunity.

Linebacker Alex Singleton was promoted from the practice squad to the active roster on Wednesday evening. There were two open spots following the release of linebacker Zach Brown and cornerback Ryan Lewis on Monday.

Before signing a reserve/futures contract with the Eagles this past January, the 25-year-old was one of the stars of the Canadian Football League. In three seasons up north, Singleton won a Grey Cup, was named the CFL's Defensive Player of the Year, and twice earned all-star honors with the Calgary Stampeders.

This wasn't Singleton's first NFL Training Camp. He was originally signed by Seattle as a rookie free agent out of Montana State in 2015. He bounced from Seattle to New England back to Seattle then to Minnesota in less than a calendar year before going to Calgary.

Singleton caught the eyes of the Eagles' coaches in the spring. Linebackers coach Ken Flajole referred to the 6-2, 240-pound Singleton as "a tough nut" and a player he wanted to see when the pads went on at Training Camp. Singleton led the Eagles with 24 tackles in the preseason. Despite the opportunity to return to Canada, Singleton joined the Eagles' practice squad, a move that paid off.

The Eagles filled Singleton's spot on the practice squad with center Keegan Render. Signed by the Eagles after the draft out of Iowa, Render was with the team through the preseason. The 6-4, 307-pound Render was an All-Big Ten selection after starting all 13 games at center in 2018.