Rob Myers hasn't played in a football game since Nov. 15, 2008. Before he was signed by the Eagles on Saturday, he had not been with a team since late May.
But just five days after earning a spot on the Eagles' 80-man roster over two other prospective tight ends, Myers might be suiting up as the Eagles open the preseason at home against the New England Patriots. At this point, Myers is one of only three healthy tight ends on the roster.
"I'm just excited about everything," Myers said on Sunday. "I haven't played in a year. (Six) practices and I might get in a game."
Myers missed his entire senior season at Utah State, the same school that produced Kevin Curtis and Redskins Pro Bowl tight end Chris Cooley, because of a turf toe injury that required surgery. A raw prospect to begin with, the 6-3, 243-pound Myers caught 21 passes for 320 yards as a junior. His 15.2 yards per catch that season was the best out of all tight ends in the country. But the injury derailed any chance of building upon that.
"It was kind of heartbreaking. I was ready to go," Myers said. "It was the first week of camp. I come up with this toe injury and really didn't know what it was. They told me I had to have surgery. There was no way that I could play on it. I tried to stay positive the whole time, rehab and get it ready for the Pro Day. That's basically all I could do."
Myers' tough luck wasn't over. He pulled a hamstring which kept him from being able to practice with the Jets after he was signed by them following the draft. As the saying goes, you can't make the club in the tub.
Myers may not be as big in terms of weight, but he showed on Sunday a natural ability to run routes and catch the ball. It's going to be a steep learning curve. That's why when the coaches give out the playbook for New England on Monday night, he will learn off of that instead of going back to learn the offense from scratch.
"I can't get out there if I don't know what I'm doing," said Myers who didn't have his name on his No. 85 jersey Sunday morning.
It may be cliché, but as difficult as Myers' past year has been he has a very good opportunity presented in front of him.
"I'm trying to get the positive out of everything," he said.
-- Posted by Chris McPherson, 1:28 p.m., August 9
