Eagles promote Raequan Williams, place Davion Taylor on injured reserve

The Philadelphia Eagles officially promoted practice squad defensive tackle Raequan Williams to the 53-man roster and placed rookie linebacker Davion Taylor on injured reserve.

RAEQUAN WILLIAMS

The Eagles originally signed Williams as an undrafted rookie free agent following the 2020 NFL Draft. The team had a draftable grade on him and gave him the second highest guaranteed money total out of their 13 UDFA signings.

Williams failed to make the roster after training camp but the team kept him around on the practice squad. They twice elevated him to the game day roster. He took 38 defensive snaps and nine special teams snaps in those two games. With Williams no longer eligible to be elevated, the Eagles decided to give him a roster spot.

Williams figures to be the fourth defensive tackle behind Fletcher Cox, Javon Hargrave, and Malik Jackson. It’s nice to see the team opted to promote him, a young player with upside, as opposed to a more game-ready veteran like T.Y. McGill.

DAVION TAYLOR

Taylor suffered a knee injury during the Eagles’ Week 13 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Doug Pederson said he was “going to miss some time” so his move to IR was expected. Taylor is eligible to be activated for Week 17 but one would think he’s probably just out for the season.

The Eagles’ 2020 third-round pick did not have much impact to offer this year. Taylor notably played 23 fewer defensive snaps and 58 fewer special teams snaps than fellow rookie linebacker and 2020 sixth-round pick Shaun Bradley.

It’s not like Taylor was expected to be a difference-maker from the jump due to his inexperienced background. But that just highlights the questionable use of resources to select him when Philly clearly needed linebacker help.

The Eagles will hope Taylor can get healthy and focus on making a jump in 2021.