Eagles promote practice squad corner, waived/injured Alex Ellis

The Philadelphia Eagles promoted practice squad cornerback Ryan Lewis to their active roster on Friday afternoon. In a corresponding move, the team waived/injured tight end Alex Ellis.

The Eagles originally signed Lewis to their practice squad just earlier this week. Here’s what we wrote about him at the time:

Lewis, 25, is a Lancaster, Pennsylvania native who went undrafted after playing college football at Pittsburgh. Lewis originally signed with the Arizona Cardinals before then spending the majority of the 2017 regular season with the New England Patriots. Lewis was actually on the Pats’ practice squad back when the Eagles defeated them in Super Bowl LII (41-33, never forget). Lewis was claimed by Buffalo Bills after the Patriots cut him in September 2018. He ended up making three starts in seven games played for Sean McDermott, logging 15 total tackles, three passes defensed, and two forced fumbles along the way. Lewis failed to make the Bills’ final roster earlier this summer but the Colts claimed him off waivers. He was active for three games with Indianapolis before the Colts cut him last week.

One must wonder what the Eagles calling up Lewis says about Sidney Jones’ status for Sunday’s Jets game. Doug Pederson said he expects Jones — who is dealing with a hamstring injury — to play this week. But Jones was limited in practice for three days before officially being ruled “questionable” on the final injury report.

The Eagles might expect Jones to play but they might not expect him to last in the game. One can’t also rule that Jones suffers a setback prior to Sunday’s 1:00 PM kickoff.

In any case, the Eagles now have five corners for the Jets game: Jones, Rasul Douglas, Orlando Scandrick, Craig James, and Lewis. Hardly a great group but it should still be enough to handle one of the NFL’s worst offenses being led by Luke Falk.

As for Ellis, well, he didn’t practice all week due to a knee injury. The Eagles waiving him means that Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert are now the only two healthy tight ends on the 53-man roster. We saw how going thin at that spot bit the Eagles in Week 2 when Goedert tweaked his calf in pregame warmups. The Eagles do still have Joshua Perkins on the practice squad but it seems like they’ll be rolling with two tight ends for now.

Current Eagles practice squad

[Vacant spot]

CB D.J. White

WR Greg Ward

QB Kyle Lauletta

RB Boston Scott

WR Marcus Green

TE Joshua Perkins

OG Sua Opeta

DT Bruce Hector

LB Alex Singleton