In 2014, the Eagles acquired a 5-6 running back from New Orleans in Darren Sproles thanks to a trade with the Saints.
On Tuesday, the Eagles signed another 5-6 running back from New Orleans in hopes to unearth a diamond in the rough for the stretch run of the 2018 season.
The team added Boston Scott, who was on the Saints' practice squad. The 5-6, 203-pound rookie out of Louisiana Tech initially made the 53-man roster out of Training Camp but was waived and brought back to the practice squad ahead of New Orleans' regular-season opener.
To make room for Scott, the Eagles placed second-year running back Corey Clement on Injured Reserve. Clement suffered a knee injury Sunday against Dallas. Injuries have hit the running back position hard this year. Starter Jay Ajayi went on Injured Reserve after suffering a torn ACL. Sproles missed 10 games due to hamstring injuries. The Eagles will go with rookie free agent Josh Adams, Sproles, third-year back Wendell Smallwood, and Scott on Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams.
Scott was a sixth-round draft pick of the Saints, expected to serve as the third back behind Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram. He had 25 carries for 121 yards (4.8 yards per carry average) and a touchdown – which coincidentally came against the Rams – in the preseason. He also earned reps as both a punt and kick returner.
A native of Zachary, Louisiana, Scott was a walk-on at Louisiana Tech. He eventually earned a scholarship and finished his collegiate career with 1,840 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. In high school, he was a state powerlifting champion.
Those were not the only moves that the Eagles made on Tuesday as rookie defensive end Josh Sweat was placed on Injured Reserve with an ankle injury incurred Sunday against Dallas. In nine games, the fifth-round pick out of Florida State had four tackles and two quarterback hits/pressures in 68 snaps. The defensive line has also seen its fair share of injuries to key players with defensive end Derek Barnett on Injured Reserve and defensive tackle Tim Jernigan only playing in one game this season.
The Eagles used the open roster spot to add former Carolina Panthers 2017 third-round pick Daeshon Hall to the active roster. A 6-6, 275-pound edge rusher, Hall had 162 tackles, 36.5 for loss, 16 sacks, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and an interception at Texas A&M. He suffered a season-ending knee injury in his NFL debut after not missing a game in college. He was released as part of the final roster cutdown in 2018 and spent time on the practice squads of the San Francisco 49ers and Houston Texans.
The Eagles also signed cornerback Josh Hawkins to the practice squad. The 5-10, 189-pound Hawkins most recently was on the Panthers' 53-man roster. He played in five games this year, mostly on special teams. A rookie free agent of the Green Bay Packers in 2016 out of East Carolina, Hawkins played in 26 games and started three contests in his first two NFL seasons, recording 43 tackles, seven pass breakups, and a forced fumble.
– Graham Foley also contributed to this story.
