Eagles promote Sua Opeta to roster, sign two practice squad players [UPDATE]

The Philadelphia Eagles made some more roster moves on Wednesday afternoon after previously announcing some on Tuesday. Here’s an overview:

• OG Sua Opeta was promoted from the practice squad to the 53-man roster.
• OT Casey Tucker and DE Cameron Malveaux were signed to the practice squad.
• UPDATE — The Eagles designated four practice squad protections: S Elijah Riley, G/T Kayode Awosika, RB Jordan Howard, and WR John Hightower.

Let’s sort through this on a player-by-player basis.

SUA OPETA

The Eagles used a practice squad protection on Opeta before temporarily elevating him to the game day roster on Monday night. Now they’re promoting him to a full-time spot on the roster. Opeta has made two starts in nine career appearances since joining the Eagles as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2019. The team is promoting him to give them more interior depth, where they’re missing starting left guard Isaac Seumalo (out for the season) and starting right guard Brandon Brooks (out for about seven more weeks).

Opeta’s promotion also comes on the day that Landon Dickerson, who has struggled early this season, was seen wearing a knee brace at practice. Nick Sirianni wouldn’t reveal if Dickerson is going to continue to start at right guard (if healthy) or if he’ll be on the left side instead. Nate Herbig figures to be the other starting guard to pair with Dickerson.

Behind the fill-in starters, the Eagles now have Opeta and Jack Anderson (signed off the Bills’ practice squad last week) as backup guards on the roster. Brett Toth is listed as a tackle/guard and so is Jack Driscoll, who is now eligible to be activated from injured reserve.

CASEY TUCKER

Tucker is back for his fifth stint in Philly. The Eagles just can’t get enough of him. Tucker was with the Eagles in training camp but got waived in the cut from 90 to 85 players with a “waived/injured” designation. Adding Tucker gives the Eagles more bodies at offensive tackle, which is needed with Jordan Mailata still missing from practice and Driscoll/Toth potentially needed at guard.

CAMERON MALVEAUX

The Eagles worked Malveaux out last week. Here’s what we wrote at the time:

Malveaux, 27, has spent time with six different teams since entering the league as a UDFA in 2017. He has two sacks in 15 career appearances. With Brandon Graham getting hurt, the Eagles could be evaluating a potential practice squad addition for more edge depth.

Sure enough, that’s exactly what the Eagles were doing. The Eagles only have four full-time defensive ends on their roster (Derek Barnett, Josh Sweat, Ryan Kerrigan, Tarron Jackson) ... or five if you count Milton Williams. Having Matt Leo around gives them another practice body at the position but, unlike Malveaux, he’s not actually eligible to play in games while on his exemption status.

ELIJAH RILEY

Riley is a strong candidate to be temporarily elevated (if not outright promoted) to the game day roster this week. With K’Von Wallace going on IR and Marcus Epps limited in practice, the only fully healthy safety is Anthony Harris. It looks like Rodney McLeod is on track to return this week but that’s not yet a guarantee. Bumping Riley up would give the Eagles some much-needed safety depth. He might also be one of Philly’s better special teams players.

KAYODE AWOSIKA

The Eagles seem to like Awosika’s long-term potential. Also makes sense to protect him given all their offensive line injuries.

JORDAN HOWARD

Not sure about the need to protect Howard from being poached. It’s not like the Eagles run the ball anyway! Joking aside, I genuinely don’t get this one.

JOHN HIGHTOWER

The Eagles seemingly still think he has long-term potential. Moreso than Travis Fulgham, at that.

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See below for a current look at the Eagles’ 2021 practice squad.

Format: Position, player, (times protected this season), [times elevated this season]*

*Not counting COVID-19 elevations.

S Elijah Riley (4)

WR John Hightower (2)

RB Jordan Howard (2)

G/T Kayode Awosika (2)

CB Craig James (2)

DT Marvin Wilson (2)

RB Jason Huntley

WR KeeSean Johnson

WR Travis Fulgham

TE Nick Eubanks

OT Casey Tucker

DE Cameron Malveaux

DT Raequan Williams

LB JaCoby Stevens

LB Christian Elliss

CB Michael Jacquet III

{DE Matt Leo — international exemption - doesn’t count towards limit}

PRACTICE SQUAD/INJURED

OT Le’Raven Clark (1)