The Philadelphia Eagles are one of two undefeated teams entering Week 5, but their list of problems is just as long as any team in the NFL. The Eagles' issues on offense have been well-documented, and one of the underlying problems is the recent injury to long snapper Charley Hughlett.
According to PHLY Sports’ EJ Smith, Hughlett was placed on injured reserve with an undisclosed injury on Tuesday, meaning he will miss the next four games. To replace him on the roster, the Eagles signed Cal Adomitis, who has been the long snapper for the Cincinnati Bengals for the past three seasons.
Getting a long snapper with experience is one way to soften the blow of losing Hughlett. But it also raises plenty of concerns, as the reasons Adomitis was available aren’t ones that will inspire confidence among Eagles fans.
Eagles Under-the-Radar Roster Move Could Become a Major Problem
Hughlett was one of the most reliable long snappers in the NFL during his 10 seasons with the Cleveland Browns. With Pro Football Focus grades over 70.0 in seven of those 10 seasons, Hughlett was effective and available, playing in 152 consecutive games before being placed on injured reserve with a rib injury last October.
Although Hughlett came to Philadelphia to replace Rick Lovato, it hasn’t been a smooth transition. He missed time during training camp with a neck injury, and now his latest ailment has the Eagles turning to Adomitis.
Again, this might seem like an under-the-radar move, but it could have big repercussions, as Adomitis wasn’t effective in Cincinnati. He ranked 27th among qualifying snappers in overall grade and was one of six long snappers that was credited with multiple missed tackles last season, according to PFF. He eventually lost his role when the Bengals still decided to release him after being usurped by rookie William Wagner.
For reference, Wagner currently has the lowest PFF grade (28.7) among long snappers and the third lowest grade among qualifying special teamers this season, trailing only Green Bay Packers tight end Luke Musgrave (27.9) and offensive lineman Jordan Morgan (28.0). The fact that Adomitis couldn't beat Wagner for a job should be concerning.
The good news is that Adomitis has shown some promise, registering PFF grades of 70.4 and 76.7 in his first two years in the league. At the same time, his recent performance is that of a player who shouldn’t have a job. With the Eagles grading 17th (77.9) in special teams PFF grades through four games, it will be interesting if Adomitis can hold the fort or whether it could be a growing weakness that worsens while Hughlett is out.