Fringe Eagles Player Already Closer to Locking Down Roster Spot

The Philadelphia Eagles head into the 2024 season with high hopes after a tumultuous ending to last season.

The Eagles added several impactful free agents on both sides of the ball and had a great NFL draft, where they addressed multiple needs. However, one veteran free agent, who tried out for the Eagles during their rookie minicamp is already making his case on why he should be on the team’s 53-man roster.

According to Eliot Shorr-Parks of 94WIP, veteran wide receiver John Ross has helped himself at mandatory minicamp and received some first-team reps.

Shorr-Parks pointed out that Ross had four catches during Tuesday’s practice and has used his speed to get behind the defense.

If you are the Eagles’ offensive staff, you are surprised and happy to see Ross standing out this offseason in rookie minicamp and now mandatory minicamp. Philadelphia is searching for a WR3 after Julio Jones and Olamide Zaccheaus didn’t make a huge impact last season.

As of right now, you could make the case that there is an open competition for the WR3 job between Parris Campbell, Ainias Smith, Johnny Wilson, Joseph Ngata, and Ross. 

Ross has the higher pedigree out of all those players as he was a former first-round pick and was touted for his speed coming out of the University of Washington. However, he hasn’t been able to put it all together because of injury.

The last time we saw Ross play in a meaningful NFL game was in 2021 with the New York Giants. The former ninth overall pick was placed on the reserve/retired list last summer by the Kansas City Chiefs, but Ross is motivated and inspired by his son to return to the gridiron.

The 28-year-old Ross has a lot to play for and if he can continue to show glimpses of the wide receiver we saw coming out of college, Philadelphia might’ve found another dynamic piece to its offense.

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