Eagles working out former Packers first-round pick

The Philadelphia Eagles are working out free agent defensive lineman Datone Jones today, according to a report from NFL insider Mike Garafolo. Garafolo notes Jones has recently worked out for a few other teams.

Jones entered the league as the Green Bay Packers’ first-round pick (No. 26 overall) in the 2013 NFL Draft. He made just seven starts in 59 games played for the Packers before becoming a free agent in 2016. Jones then bounced from the Minnesota Vikings ... to the Detroit Lions ... to the San Francisco 49ers ... to the Dallas Cowboys over the past couple seasons before signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars earlier this year in June. The Eagles actually saw Jones up close in the preseason when he concussed Cody Kessler with a big hit (pictured above this article) as the quarterback failed to get rid of the ball quickly enough. The Jags waived Jones in final roster cuts.

The Eagles have a need for interior defensive line depth given that their only three healthy defensive tackles are Fletcher Cox, Anthony Rush, and Albert Huggins. Rush and Huggins are undrafted rookie free agents who’ve never played in an NFL regular season game. Signing Jones would give the Eagles some more experience on the defensive line after jettisoning Akeem Spence on Monday evening.

The Eagles currently don’t have an open roster spot so they’d need to make a corresponding move to sign Jones. Perhaps Hassan Ridgeway’s injury is serious enough to where he has to go on injured reserve?