As the Organized Team Activities concluded for the Eagles on Thursday, the team got to business and announced a slew of roster transactions.
Linebacker Keenan Clayton signed his rookie deal, a four-year contract. The Eagles also announced that safety Marlin Jackson, who ruptured his Achilles tendon last week, has been placed on the injured reserve list. Also, the following four players have been released - quarterback Joey Elliott, running back Keithon Flemming, wide receiver Pat Simonds and fullback Chris Zardas.
The Eagles can only take 80 players to training camp at Lehigh University. Draft picks who are unsigned do not count towards that total.
Clayton is the seventh of the team's league-high 13 picks to get under contract. A fourth-round pick (121st overall) out of Oklahoma, the 6-1, 229-pound Clayton was an honorable All-Big 12 selection as a senior with 75 tackles, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and 1.5 sacks. A converted safety, Clayton has good cover ability and worked at both outside linebacker spots in the OTAs. As a junior, Clayton set a school record with six forced fumbles and had nine pass breakups, which was the second-most by a linebacker in Oklahoma history.
Placing Jackson on the injured reserve was not a surprise, but simply another disappointment as this will be his third-straight season cut short due to injury. Head coach Andy Reid spoke with confidence on Thursday that Jackson, a former first-round pick of the Indianapolis Colts, still has a bright future ahead of him.
"You are not going to find a tougher, more dedicated guy and these things all of a sudden they change and happen pretty quick," Reid said. "We went through this a little bit with (Derrick) Burgess. Banged up, banged up, banged up, and then he got himself healthy and went to a couple of Pro Bowls. Marlin, he's a positive guy, an upbeat guy, a smart guy, and a tough guy, so he'll work through this, and these crazy things will stop and he'll have a nice career ahead of him."
-- Posted by Chris McPherson, 3:45 p.m., June 10
