Eagles news: Philly works out former 1st-round cornerback, XFL and USFL may join forces
Things can turn, but ahead of Week 3's finale, a pair of Monday Night Football games (including one featuring the Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers), the Birds are dealing with something that they didn't have to navigate often in 2022... adversity. Much of what made this team so dominant a season ago was its good fortune with keeping guys healthy. Only two games of the campaign have been played. One remains, and the depth chart/roster has been juggled more often than we would like. Just take the secondary for instance.
Safety Reed Blankenship missed Week 2's home opener with a rib injury. Avonte Maddox figures to miss the remainder of the season with a torn pectoral muscle. Poor Zech McPhearson never even made it to the regular season. To compensate for the losses, vice president/general manager Howie Roseman, the best in the biz, has his ear to the street.
Eagles news: William Jackson works out for Philadelphia at the NovaCare Complex on Tuesday.
The NovaCare Complex is like the Waffle House or your local 7-11. It never closes. Here's what the Birds did on Tuesday. They worked out William Jackson III, a former first-round selection of the Cincinnati Bengals (2016). He spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons with the Washington Commanders.
Jordan Schultz of the Schultz Report was first with the news.
Sources: Former #Commanders CB William Jackson III is working out for the #Eagles today.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) September 19, 2023
Jackson’s a sub-4.4 corner who I’m told is fully healthy after enduring a bulging disk in his back last season. pic.twitter.com/9LV8k1TK1H
Jackson has 205 tackles, a sack, five interceptions, 51 pass breakups, and a defensive TD on his resume. He's on the practice squad. He's someone to keep an eye on.
More news from the world of pro football: The XFL and USFL plan to join forces.
Some believe spring football can work in this great country. Others don't see the benefit. Here's where we all can agree. The USFL and XFL may need to rethink their business plans if they are to survive. By the looks of things, that appears to have already begun.
Sara Fischer of Axios reports the two leagues are in talks to merge. Tim Baysinger and Dan Primack helped pen the story. It's a nice read. Be sure to check that one out when you have time.
Sure, the quality of football may not be on par with the NFL. More often than not, XFL/USFL prospects that get a call or opportunity from one of the NFL's 32 professional franchises won't make the cutm but occasionally, the Birds can get a guy like Greg Ward.
With that being aid, this good be a good thing. Plus, spring football gives us some on-field entertainment until the National Football League begins churning. We'll see what happens. This could be interesting.
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