Eagles’ Devon Allen Limps to Finish, Sets Sights on 53-Man Roster

An injury to the Philadlphia Eagles receiver during a recent track and field meet foiled the his quest to qualify for an event that would've come in the middle of training camp.

There won’t be any decision to make for receiver Devon Allen, not anymore after a calf injury forced him to withdraw from the USATF Championships last weekend at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.

A member of the Philadelphia Eagles 90-man roster, the two-time Olympian in the 110-hurdles was attempting to qualify for the World Athletic Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Aug. 19-27.

Had Allen qualified for that event he – and the Eagles – would have had a decision to make about his NFL future since the WAC came during the heart of training camp.

The Eagles will report to the team’s South Philadelphia training facility to begin camp on July 25.

The question now is, how healthy will Allen be?

He pulled limping across the finish line, though posted a time of 13.54, during his qualifier last Saturday and sat out the final on Sunday.

Allen spoke to Flo Track following the meet.

“Just being a little bit cautious with this, you know, I don’t want to ultimately hurt myself seriously,” he said. “I got training camp coming up in a few weeks. A lot of it is big picture, in terms of my health.”

He added the injury is considered “day to day,” but chose not to put forward a diagnosis.

“I don’t know,” he said. “Just kind of playing it safe, in terms of making sure I don’t do anymore if there’s an injury. The best thing you can do is be fresh and healthy at a meet like this so that was the goal.”

If the injury isn’t serious, and the rest helps, Allen will attempt to earn a spot on the 53-man roster at a position that doesn’t have much proven depth beyond the foursome of A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Quez Watkins, and Olamide Zaccheaus.

Britain Covey is also in the receiver mix given his ability to return punts.

Ed Kracz covers the Philadelphia Eagles for SI's EaglesToday.

Please follow him and our Eagles coverage on Twitter at @kracze.

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