Eagles' Devon Allen Finally Makes His NFL Debut in Win vs. Bucs

Philadelphia Eagles Olympic track star Devon Allen finally gets his shot in the NFL

PHILADELPHIA – His NFL debut was years in the making. Finally, at age 28, it happened for Devon Allen.

The Philadelphia Eagles Olympic track star made his first appearance in a regular-season professional game on Monday night as a kick returner against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. There aren’t many opportunities for a kick returner these days with the way the rules are written, so when Bucs kicker Jake Camarda booted one his way midway through the second quarter, Allen made a split-second decision to take it out.

“I was definitely aware of where I was and obviously being excited on my first NFL opportunity, I said, 'Let’s go for it,'” said Allen on Wednesday, as the undefeated Eagles prepare to play their NFC East rival Washington Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday (1 p.m.).

Allen chugged across the goal line. He didn’t get very far. Seventeen yards to be exact.

“Watching the film in hindsight, just with the hang time that kicker had, it was a perfect kick on the minus-1, and it just hung up there for a little bit,” he said. “With plays like that, it gives the kick team some time to get down there, and our guys have to hold their blocks for much, much longer.

“But I have a lot of confidence in the kickoff return team out there to make the blocks and myself to make a play when I get the opportunity. I just want to keep taking my chances. They’re not all going to hit, but eventually, they will hit.”

Allen, who has run in the past two Summer Olympic Games (2016 and 2020) in the 110-meter hurdles, took six years off from football when he came out of Oregon in 2016 to work on his track ability. In three seasons with the Ducks, he had 54 catches for 919 yards and eight touchdowns while averaging 26.1 yards on eight kickoffs in his first season with Oregon.

Devon Allen / Dan Shrensky, SI Fan Nation Eagles Today

He still has one leg in track and remains hopeful of qualifying for the 2024 Games in Paris, but is now invested in trying to make his mark in the NFL.

Playing in his first NFL game he said compared favorably to the high-level track meets he has competed in and continues to compete in.

“It’s pretty similar, just the intensity and adrenaline for sure,” he said. “It’s interesting that whenever I race and whenever I’m out there on the field, I kind of block out everything else. I don’t really hear much or see much outside of just what’s going on during that play or race. It’s a very similar experience.”

Allen was elevated from the practice squad for Monday’s game. He still has two elevations remaining before the Eagles will have to make a decision on whether to add him to the 53-man roster, but there’s no guarantee when or if those final two elevations will come.

“That’s what football is, it’s a meritocracy,” he said. “You can earn more playing time and more positions just as quickly as you can lose it, really. My goal is to just continue to keep getting better, keep progressing, and keep making plays. It’s a production league, and when I get the opportunity, I’m going to go out there and make the best of it.”

Allen also saw time on punt cover teams against the Bucs, working as a gunner. In all, he played 11 special team snaps. At the very least, he now has a measurable NFL stat.

“One return for 17 yards?” he said. “Hey, I'll take it.”