Philadelphia Eagles Signing Big Name in Julio Jones; How Can He Help?

The Philadelphia Eagles’ signing of seven-time Pro Bowl receiver Julio Jones to the practice squad looks like boom-or-bust since hamstring injuries have hindered him recently.

PHILADELPHIA – Julio Jones is a big name much the same way defensive tackles Ndamukong Suh and Linval Joseph were last year.

Suh and Joseph had enough left to help the Philadelphia Eagles make a march to the Super Bowl. After the Eagles signed Jones to the practice squad on Tuesday, the question is now: Does the seven-time Pro Bowl receiver have anything left at age 34?

The Eagles aren’t getting the Jones, circa 2019, which was the last of his seven 1,000-plus-yard seasons, but they can only help Jones has enough left to help them this season at a position where depth is shallow at best.

Quez Watkins is on injured reserve with a hamstring that has hindered him all season and is out for at least three more games. 

He was supposed to be the third receiver behind top studs A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, but it didn’t happen for Watkins, who may have played his last snap for the Eagles because his rookie contract expires at the end of the season and, well, Jones may make him irrelevant.

Julio Jones / USA Today

Olamide Zaccheaus has been a non-factor. He played 57 offensive snaps (81 percent) in last week’s loss to the New York Jets and was targeted just twice in the passing game, making a single catch for all of five yards.

Punt returner Britain Covey had two snaps on offense and Devon Allen, who the Eagles promoted from the practice squad for the second time this season, leaving the speedster with only one elevation remaining, didn’t play any offensive snaps, though made it onto the field for played 12 special team reps.

Jones may be able to offer more. He has, however, been plagued by hamstring injuries the past three seasons, limiting him to 29 games played out of a possible 50.

At the very least, Jones brings veteran value. He is close with Smith, since both played at Alabama, though at much different times.

Also, Brown and Jones spent a year as teammates in Tennessee with the Titans in 2021.

That Jones was brought onto the practice squad gives the Eagles some time to figure out what he does or doesn’t have left.

Of course, he could be added to the roster at any time, and this would be his 13th NFL season, but the practice squad allows both parties to be evaluated on a weekly basis and Philly can elevate him as many as three times before having to decide whether to bring onto the roster or release him.

It’s a win-win for both the Eagles and Jones, and if he can rekindle some of his youth, it’s a really, really big win-win.