Prior to Sunday’s afternoon matinee game against the Carolina Panthers at Lincoln Financial Field, the Eagles made the following roster announcements. TE E.J. Jenkins was signed to the active roster. During Training Camp and the preseason, Jenkins’ size (6-6, 245 pounds) and quickness earned him a position on the Eagles’ practice squad. The Eagles promoted him for the November 3 victory over Jacksonville and the first two games of the 2024 campaign. Jenkins began his rookie season splitting time between the Eagles and the Las Vegas Raiders practice squads after being signed by the Jets as a rookie free agent out of Georgia Tech after the 2023 NFL Draft.
Jenkins began his collegiate career at St. Francis of Pennsylvania (2017–20) and South Carolina (2021), but he completed his studies at Georgia Tech. Jenkins amassed 1,264 yards and 18 touchdowns on 69 receptions (18.3 yards per reception) in 46 games throughout his collegiate career. After C.J. Uzomah, who was added to the active roster on Wednesday, and Grant Calcaterra, Jenkins will be the third tight end on the roster. positioned TE Goedert of Dallas is on injured reserve. The Eagles put their best tight end on injured reserve to make room for Jenkins. During last Sunday’s victory over the Ravens, Goedert sustained a knee injury. Given that he will need to miss the next four games, Goedert’s earliest possible return date would be the regular-season finale versus against the Giants in Week 18.
In nine games, Goedert has 38 catches for 441 yards (11.6 yards per catch) and two touchdowns this season. A seven-year veteran, Goedert had a career game in the Week 3 win over the Saints when he caught 10 passes for 170 yards, marking the most receiving yards by an Eagles tight end since Pete Retzlaff in 1965.
Since becoming the full-time starter at tight end in 2021, Goedert is fifth among all NFL tight ends in receiving yards (2,565) and fourth in yards per catch (12.3).
On Tuesday, Blasingame was added to the practice squad. On October 25, the sixth-year fullback was cut from the Chicago Bears during his third season. Blasingame played in 32 games from 2022–2023 before making two appearances this season. Linebacker Ben VanSumeren, who was placed on Injured Reserve due to a knee injury, is replaced by Blasingame. Besides being an exceptional special teams player, VanSumeren established himself as a fullback. On Sunday, Sam is scheduled to make his NFL debut. Sam, who signed with the Eagles as a rookie free agent after the 2024 NFL Draft, has been on the practice squad the whole season. He is being elevated to the practice squad for the first time.
Sam was LSU’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2023 after leading the Tigers with three interceptions and posting a career-high 85 tackles. He spent seven seasons in the collegiate ranks: McNeese State (2017-21), Marshall (2022), and LSU. Reed Blankenship (concussion) and Sydney Brown (knee) are out due to injury.
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