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The Philadelphia Eagles waived quarterback Jerod Evans and defensive tackle Charles Walker with injury settlements on Monday, according to the NFL’s official transaction log.
Evans and Walker were both waived/injured last week, which means they were set to be placed on Philadelphia’s injured reserve list after passing through waivers unclaimed. But now that the two sides have reached injury settlements, the players will be waived entirely instead of being placed on the Eagles’ injured reserve list.
What’s the reason for this? Well, if the Eagles had kept Evans/Walker on injured reserve, the players wouldn’t have been able to practice or play at all this year. By reaching injury settlements instead, the Eagles will now likely be able to bring Evans and/or Walker back in time for training camp. (Assuming they don’t sign elsewhere first.)
Evans and Walker are eligible to return to the Eagles no sooner than three weeks after the injury settlement time expires. While we don’t know how long the injury settlement time is, three weeks from now is June 12. And then it’s roughly seven or eight weeks until training camp begins in late July/early August. I would guess both players are going to be eligible to return to the Eagles by then.
It’s possible the Eagles move on from Walker and Evans entirely, but I would think Philadelphia wants them back. Evans could be a nice developmental quarterback to keep around on the practice squad this season. He ranked as the Eagles’ fourth best UDFA signing. Walker, meanwhile, was believed by some to be a first round pick if it weren’t for his red flags. He ranked as the Eagles’ third best UDFA signing.
For what it’s worth, Walker seems like he plans on coming back to Philadelphia. He sent out the following tweets upon news of him being waived/injured last week.
Gods plan ....so I'll be back after I heal up from my surgery and go out there and do what I do #FLYEAGLESFLY #BIRDGANG #TrustTheProcess
— Charles Walker (@C_Walk97) May 18, 2017
6-8 weeks and then I'll be back for training camp better then ever #birdgang #FLYEAGLESFLY
— Charles Walker (@C_Walk97) May 18, 2017
While the good news is Evans and/or Walker might ultimately be back in time for training camp, the bad news is they’ll have missed a lot of valuable spring practice reps. Eagles OTAs begin this week and run through mid-June.
Whether they’re back or not, here’s hoping Evans and Walker well wishes in their recovery.