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Well, here’s some more unexpected injury news: the Philadelphia Eagles are placing rookie offensive tackle Jordan Mailata on injured reserve.
The full extent of Mailata’s injury is currently unknown but we do know he did not practice on Thursday due to a back issue.
It’s pretty unusual that Mailata suffered a season-ending injury despite not playing a single snap this season. As a depth player, I can’t imagine he gets a ton of practice reps.
Unfortunately, “unusual” is a word that describes a number of Eagles injury situations this year, which is why questions are being raised about the team’s medical staff.
This Mailata news is a bummer because there was hope that he might be able to get his first NFL regular season snaps against Washington in Week 17. The Eagles might be officially eliminated from the playoffs by that point.
Hopefully Mailata’s injury isn’t one that will cause him to miss offseason time. The 21-year-old showed intriguing upside during the 2018 preseason. Mailata needs all the reps he can get as he tries to master the craft of playing offensive tackle.
Mailata is now the 13th player on the Eagles’ injured reserve list this season. (Read more about him in this great profile from BGN’s Benjamin Solak.)
In a corresponding roster move, the Eagles promoted linebacker B.J. Bello from the practice squad. Bello origially signed with Philadelphia back in mid-October. The Eagles needed more linebacker depth with Jordan Hicks missing time.
RESERVE/PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO PERFORM
S Chris Maragos
RESERVE/INJURED
RB Jay Ajayi
DE Derek Barnett
CB Elie Bouka
RB Corey Clement
CB Ronald Darby
WR Mack Hollins
OT Jordan Mailata
S Rodney McLeod
CB Jalen Mills
TE Joshua Perkins
DE Josh Sweat
WR Mike Wallace
LB Paul Worrilow
The Eagles replaced Bello’s vacant spot on the practice squad by signing offensive guard Kaleb Johnson. The Rutgers alumnus originally signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted rookie in 2015 (Joe Douglas connection). Johnson is 25 years old and measures in at 6-4, 320 pounds.
Here’s an updated look at the Eagles’ practice squad:
OG Kaleb Johnson
CB Josh Hawkins
CB Jeremiah McKinnon
OL Anthony Fabiano
TE Will Tye
RB Donnel Pumphrey
LB Asantay Brown
WR Braxton Miller
WR Dorren Miller
DE Joe Ostman