The Eagles announced the following roster moves on Tuesday afternoon:
• Signed TE Richard Rodgers
• Promoted WR Deontay Burnett from the practice squad to the active roster
• Signed WR River Cracraft to the practice squad
• Waived RB Jay Ajayi
• Placed CB Ronald Darby on Injured Reserve
Eagles sign TE Richard Rodgers
Tight end Richard Rodgers was with the team in Training Camp, but suffered a foot injury in August and placed on Injured Reserve during the roster cutdown to 53 players. The Eagles released Rodgers off Injured Reserve with an injury settlement on September 11.
The 27-year-old Rodgers is a reliable, veteran tight end who has 121 career receptions for 1,173 yards and 13 touchdowns in 70 regular-season games (24 starts). Rodgers played in seven games for the Eagles in 2018.
Eagles promote WR Deontay Burnett from the practice squad to the active roster
Wide receiver Deontay Burnett was signed to the practice squad on December 12. The 22-year-old USC product played in five games for the Jets last season, accounting for 10 catches and 143 yards. He had career highs in receptions (5) and yards (73) in a late-season game at New England.
The 6-0, 186-pound Burnett originally joined the league as a rookie free agent signing of the Titans in 2018. He was cut during the final roster cutdown and signed to the Jets' practice squad. Last October, Burnett was promoted to the active roster. This year, he was released by the Jets during the final roster cutdown. He was signed to the 49ers' practice squad in October and released earlier this month before joining the Eagles.
At USC, Burnett caught 152 passes for 1,897 yards and 16 touchdowns in 39 games (17 starts) in three seasons. Burnett's breakout game was in the 2017 Rose Bowl when he had 13 receptions for 164 yards and three touchdowns.
Eagles sign WR River Cracraft to practice squad
The Eagles signed wide receiver River Cracraft to fill Deontay Burnett's spot on the practice squad.
The 25-year-old second-year receiver appeared as a return specialist in eight games for the Denver Broncos in 2018. He originally entered the NFL as a rookie free agent with the Broncos in 2017.
Cracraft played 42 games (27 starts) at Washington State, finishing with 218 catches for 2,701 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Eagles waive RB Jay Ajayi
Running back Ajayi filled in as an emergency running back for the past six games.
A hero in the Super Bowl season for the Eagles, Ajayi was re-signed on November 15 just before the Week 11 showdown with the Patriots. In six games, Ajayi had 10 carries for 30 yards. He has not had a touch on offense since the Monday night win over the Giants on December 9. He did not play in three of the six games that he was on the active roster.
The Eagles brought back Ajayi after Jordan Howard suffered a shoulder injury in the November 3 win over the Bears. Howard has missed six games. In Howard's absence, Miles Sanders has thrived and Boston Scott has emerged as a change-of-pace option for the offense.
Sanders has 766 rushing yards, 510 receiving yards, and six total touchdowns this season. He leads all NFL rookies with 1,590 all-purpose yards and is second to Oakland's Josh Jacobs in yards from scrimmage with 1,276.
Sanders has set the franchise rookie records for all-purpose yards, yards from scrimmage, and rushing yards. He's played at least 50 snaps in each of the six games with Howard sidelined. In the past two weeks, Sanders has 39 rushes for 201 yards and a touchdown with another 11 catches for 127 yards and another touchdown through the air.
In the win over Washington, Sanders became the first Eagles rookie to produce 170 yards from scrimmage, one rushing touchdown, and one receiving touchdown in the same game. He followed that up on Sunday against Dallas with 79 rushing yards, 77 receiving yards, and a rushing touchdown. He could have had a second rushing touchdown, but slid in order for the Eagles to run out the clock.
Scott emerged in the win over the Giants, leading the team with 59 yards on 10 carries to go with six catches for 69 receiving yards, career highs all across the board. Scott contributed nine carries for 38 yards and 13 catches for 46 yards in the past two wins.
Eagles place CB Ronald Darby on Injured Reserve
Cornerback Ronald Darby was placed on Injured Reserve after suffering a hip flexor injury early in Sunday's win over Dallas. Darby played just 11 snaps before going to the locker room.
The fifth-year cornerback posted 47 tackles, two interceptions, and 11 pass breakups in 11 games (519 snaps). This was his third season with the Eagles after coming over in a trade with Buffalo during Training Camp in 2017.
After suffering a fractured ankle in the 2017 opener, Darby returned to start in the second half of the season and the playoffs. Despite missing time, he was second on the team with three interceptions and led the Eagles with 22 tackles and seven pass breakups in the playoffs.
Darby will turn just 26 years old on January 2. He will be an unrestricted free agent after returning on a one-year deal this past offseason.
