It's highly doubtful that anyone expected at the start of the regular season that the player most involved in Eagles transactions heading into the playoffs would be quarterback Ian Book.

Yet, here we are.

Book returns to the practice squad two days after he was waived from the active roster.

The Eagles used that open roster spot on Wednesday to sign defensive back Lewis Cine off of the practice squad of the Buffalo Bills. With the added defensive back, the Eagles released cornerback Mekhi Gardner from the practice squad.

Following the injuries to Jalen Hurts (concussion) and Kenny Pickett (ribs), the Eagles signed Book to the practice squad on December 26 then to the active roster two days later. He did not appear in either of the final two regular-season games while on the active roster.

A fourth-round pick of the New Orleans Saints in 2021, Book (6-foot, 206 pounds) was claimed off waivers by the Eagles at the end of the 2022 preseason and spent the entire season on the active roster. He dressed for two games, but did not play. He returned in 2023, but did not make the roster out of Training Camp. He briefly spent time with the New England Patriots on their practice squad in 2023 and was with the Kansas City Chiefs this past offseason.

At Notre Dame, Book finished his college career as the school's all-time winningest quarterback (30-5 record) and was a two-time captain, leading the Fighting Irish to two College Football Playoff appearances.

Garner returned to the practice squad on New Year's Eve. He played in three games for the Eagles in 2023, recording one special teams tackle after signing with the team as an undrafted free agent. He was waived by the team this past summer with an injury designation.