The Eagles are on the verge of getting more reinforcements coming out of the mini-bye weekend.
The team announced on Wednesday that they have opened the 21-day practice window for wide receiver/punt returner Britain Covey.
Covey suffered a shoulder injury in the win over the New Orleans Saints in Week 3. Covey led the NFL with 417 punt return yards in 2023 and was the only player in the league with multiple punt returns of 50+ yards. Since 2022, Covey has the second-most punt return yards (734) in the league.
Rookie defensive back Cooper DeJean handled punt return duties in Covey's absence, averaging 11.8 yards per return.
Special Teams Coordinator Michael Clay was asked about the potential return of Covey to the lineup on Tuesday.
"I can't say enough good things about Cooper and what he's done, not only as a defensive player, but going back out there. We kind of had a rough start in Tampa Bay and that's just on me as a coach more than anything else," Clay said.
"Getting him settled in after the bye week, he's done an unbelievable job. Like I said before, it's always nice to have two options. You get a little more creative with it in having both Covey, when he does return at some point and having Cooper. So going forward, we feel confident when Covey does get to come back or if it takes a little bit longer that we have Cooper back there."
The team also re-signed defensive tackle Siaki Ika to the practice squad. To make room, the team released wide receiver Kyle Philips from the practice squad.
Ika was originally signed to the practice squad on October 23, but released six days later.
A third-round pick of the Cleveland Browns in 2023, Ika played in four regular-season games for the Browns last season as a rookie as well as the playoff contest in Houston. The 6-foot-3, 335-pound Ika was a member of LSU's 2019 National Championship Team, playing in 13 games that season as a true freshman. He finished his college career at Baylor. In four seasons between the two schools, Ika played in 40 games (23 starts).
