The Philadelphia Eagles are expected to sign free agent running back Jordan Howard to the practice squad.
The #Eagles are expected to sign FA RB Jordan Howard to the practice squad after he clears COVID-19 protocols, source said. A very familiar face.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 19, 2020
This deal is expected to go through as soon as Howard passes all COVID-19 protocols.
Howard was on the Dolphins roster in 2020 but had recently been released.
He only had 28 carries this season, but he scored 4 times.
Miami is moving in the direction of their rookie free agent pickup, Salvon Ahmed.
Jordan Howard
Jordan Howard is back in an Eagles uniform. Him and Sanders need to be in the backfield at the same time.
It worked last year. pic.twitter.com/x3cNJeIRu3
— Brenden Deeg (@BrendenDeegNFP) November 19, 2020
Obviously, Jordan Howard is a familiar face in Philadelphia.
Last year, Howard and Miles Sanders shared the running back duties early in the season.
Then Howard suffered a shoulder injury on November 3, 2019 and did not play the rest of the season.
Howard played in 10 games, scored 7 TDs (6 rushing and 1 receiving), and rushed for 525 yards prior to his injury.
Miles Sanders
No one knows for sure if Miles Sanders knew the Howard signing was imminent.
He certainly was saying the right things leading up to it.
“Honestly, not at all, y’all not going to get me. Sorry but I’m a team player. I’m willing to do whatever it takes, when my number’s called I’m going to do what I do…And when it’s not I’m going to do whatever I can do to help whoever else’s number is called. Whether it’s blocking, being the lead blocker or doing whatever. So I’m not ever questioning my workload or anything. I trust the coaches and the coaches trust me and that’s all it is.”
A Positive Move
Many find the signing of Jordan Howard a positive move for the Eagles.
Howard could be used in short yardage situations to spare Carson Wentz from those 3rd and 1 and 4th and 1 QB sneaks that make Eagles fans nervous each times he does them.
Also, the dynamic duo of Howard and Sanders last year created a lot of explosive plays when they were on the field together.
It seems as though the Eagles are reverting back to a running back by committee approach whereas Miles Sanders has taken the majority of the workload when healthy this year.
Coach Doug Pederson admitted that the Eagles have moved away from that approach.
“We knew when we drafted Miles that he was potentially, and still is, a guy that could go three downs for us, and be a bigger part of our offensive plans. That’s something that we’ve also talked about in the 4 or 5 years that I’ve been here, of having that guy that we can rely on that way…I still think the philosophy is running back by committee, however, with Miles and what he’s been able to do, we’ve given more touches to him.”
It will be interesting to watch how Pederson and his staff incorporate Howard back into the Eagles running game when he is eligible to play.
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