Eagles Sign WR Freddie Swain; Why So Late?
PHILADELPHIA – The spotlight swung around again to the Philadelphia Eagles’ receiver position after the team signed Freddie Swain on Wednesday.
The obvious question on signing Swain so late is: Why?
Is he simply another body to throw out there against the Indianapolis Colts in the final exhibition game of summer or are there more deeper concerns?
The Eagles do have injuries at the position that have thinned the depth.
Britain Covey and Quez Watkins have missed most of camp with hamstring injuries, though Watkins returned in limited form for Tuesday’s practice. Greg Ward has missed the last three practices with an ankle injury.
None of the three will likely play on Thursday night and, if the cliché, is correct – that you can’t make the club from the tub – then Covey and Ward may not make the 53-man roster.
As for some others, let’s be honest, what exactly has Joseph Ngata done? He’s had some nice reps during training camp, but he hasn’t exactly shined when the lights came on in the first two preseason games with four catches for 43 yards on eight targets.
Johnny King has good length but came to camp late and has two catches for 54 yards in two games.
Deon Cain missed time with an injury, but he is still football-ready after a season spent in the USFL. He can also return punts.
Jadon Haselwood isn’t the answer and Devon Allen still has work to do before being anything more than a potential practice squad player.
Their most promising summer receiver was Tyrie Cleveland, but an injury landed him on the outside looking in.
Then there’s Swain. He has experience as a former sixth-round draft pick in 2020 out of the University of Florida, which is where Eagles offensive coordinator Brian Johnson coached prior to coming to Philly.
He was most recently with the Miami Dolphins after being drafted by the Seattle Seahawks.
Swain can also return punts, something there could be a need for if Covey either isn’t ready to return or doesn’t make the 53-man roster initially, which is a real possibility. If that happens, the Eagles will likely try to bring him back to the practice squad and maybe then put him on IR.
If the Eagles want to keep Covey, they need to first make sure he is on the 53-man roster then put him on IR.
If that is the case, then maybe Swain will get a long look, though how much he can show on Thursday without having had much time to learn the playbook remains to be seen. He could, however, be the player who replaces Covey if Covey goes on the IR or doesn’t make the roster at all.
Either way, bringing in Swain in at this late stage of summer is an interesting development at the very least.
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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