Eagles’ DeAndre Carter has a new jersey number as he makes an NFL regular season roster for the first time

DeAndre Carter is one of the best stories on the Philadelphia Eagles’ roster.

The 25-year-old wide receiver only signed with the Eagles three days into training camp but still found a way to win over the coaching staff. Carter finished the preseason with the second most receiving yards on the team and the seventh most overall in the entire league.

It was very nice to see Carter mkae the Eagles’ 53-man roster. Believe it or not, it’s the first time he’s made a regular season squad since he entered the league as an undrafted free agent out of Sacramento State in 2015.

And in making the team, Carter fulfilled a promise to his late brother. Via PhiladelphiaEagles.com:

Kaylan Carter suffered a heart attack at the age of 17 during while weight training with his high school football team. It turned out Kaylan had an enlarged heart. Kaylan was in a coma on life support for seven weeks before being taken off and passing away shortly afterward.

DeAndre, then a budding wide receiver at Sacramento State, left the team to be with his brother. On his deathbed, DeAndre promised his brother that he was going to make it to the NFL - for both of them.

After being named a unanimous All-Big Sky first-team selection as a senior, Carter was not drafted but signed as a rookie free agent with the Ravens where Joe Douglas was on the personnel staff. He didn’t make the active roster in Baltimore but landed on Oakland’s practice squad in 2015. Then New England’s practice squad in 2016. Then San Francisco’s practice squad last season. He’s been on the transactions list 15 times over the span of three years since arriving in the NFL.

I mean, how can you not root for this 5-8, 188 pound underdog?

Another cool aspect to Carter making the team is that he now gets a “real” wide receiver number. He was previously wearing No. 2 since the numbers in the teens and 80’s were taken. The NFL allows receivers to wear single digits in the preseason but not in the regular season. Carter will now don the No. 16 jersey, which he wore as a rookie with the Baltimore Ravens back in 2015. Here’s a picture.

As the Eagles’ sixth receiver, Carter won’t be in line for a ton of playing time in 2018. He’ll likely be inactive on game day more often than not. But in the short-term, he’s an important to have around considering Alshon Jeffery and Mack Hollins are dealing with injuries. Carter also provides value as a direct replacement for Nelson Agholor in the slot.

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Speaking of the Eagles’ receiving corps, here’s a fun fact from BGN’s Cody Benjamin.

Eagles receivers by jersey number:

Alshon Jeffery - No. 17
Mike Wallace - No. 14
Nelson Agholor - No. 13
Mack Hollins - No. 10
Shelton Gibson - No. 18
DeAndre Carter - No. 16

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In other Eagles jersey number news, newly acquired linebacker D.J. Alexander will be wearing No. 59, which is Joe Walker’s old number. Defensive back Deiondre’ Hall will be sporting No. 36 after he serves his one-game suspension.