The Eagles preseason games will likely decide who will start the season as receiver three. That all starts Friday, August 9th in Baltimore
One of the more interesting stories of the 2024 Eagles training camp is the battle for the third receiver role behind A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.
Sixth round pick, Johnny Wilson, veteran free agent John Ross, veteran free agent Parris Campbell and third year punt returner Britain Covey, signed as a free agent out of Utah, are all making the case to play a significant role in the Birds offense.
Last season, Covey, now 27, led the NFL with 417 total punt return yards. He returned two punts for 35 years in Eagles 38-35 loss to the Kansas Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII.
But as a receiver, he saw little action.
Covey caught four passes for 42 yards for the season…all in garbage time minutes.
After the Eagles humiliating 27-10 loss to the New York Football Giants on January 7, 2024, Covey, who caught three passes for 35 yards in the game, said he believed he could be contributing more as a receiver, but breaking through on team, with the receivers ahead of him – namely Brown and Smith - made it tough.
"They’ve been a part of only a few 13-win teams and we have a chance to be one of those,” Covey said in the Eagles subdued locker room. “But also not letting that be our end goal. It’s a tricky balance. You’ve really got to rely on your leaders to help you find that.”
Covey want on to say he believes he can be a productive sot receiver in the NFL.
“I’ve had a package in for me since week three of the season, with multiple plays,” Covey said. “We just haven’t gotten to it. I’m not the type of person to ever to put my hand up about plays.
"When my number’s called and I hope I get the confidence. I’m not ever ashamed of not playing when there’s guys like A.J. and DeVonta in front of me. I just want to be there any time I do.”
Covey, who along with teammate Landon Dickerson earned the rank of Eagle Scout during their youth, also said he believes the coaching staff and Jalen Hurts believe in him. Even during one of the teams worst collapses in franchise history was still unfolding, he still had faith in his future.
“That’s the goal for me always,” Covey said. “I know they have confidence in me, it’s just…when you have some of the best receivers of all time, it’s kind of hard to crack that rotation. I do feel like I have the trust of the guys, especially our captain (Hurts)…he comes up to me all the time and says…’be ready, be ready…cause I want you in there.’ So that’s encouraging for me. My goal is to be like a Wes Welker type when it’s all said and done.”
He may get that chance soon enough.
Sirianni has been asked about the status of the position several times. The fourth-year head coach recently talked about the guy fighting for the job.
“Yeah, I'm really excited about this group. I really am,” Sirianni said at a recent press conference. “Without going into detail of all the guys, I think that everyone brings a little different skill set to the table that everybody can contribute to."
Sirianni then went into detail about every receiver on the training camp roster.
“Parris has had success in this league through different things that he's done. He has toughness. He has speed. John Ross has got excellent speed. Johnny Wilson, big, physical, can bring an element of toughness and blocking to the group.
The coach got to Covey and seemed to make sure he went into a little more detail with his veteran out of Utah.
“Britian Covey has had a nice camp thus far. He's got some great quickness, and you can see how he is with the ball in his hands.
“You get to see that every Sunday, and you got to see that the last two years every Sunday with the way he is with the ball in his hands.
“Ainias (Smith), we're excited about the things we saw on him on tape, and he's working to keep getting better. Joe Ngata has had some bright spots in the camp and he's big and he's physical, similar to some of the things we talk about with Johnny Wilson.
“And I like the back end, the other guys, too -- I wouldn't say back end, the guys that just kind of became part of the Eagles from other teams. I'm looking at Austin Watkins right now, Jacob Harris, so I'm excited about all these guys, to work with all these guys.
"Now I've got to mention everybody because I have two more guys in there. Shaq Davis I'm excited about, too, and Griff (Griffin Hebert).
“Again, it's a good group, one of the best groups I've had 1 through 13 in my time in the NFL, and they all bring different and I’ll be excited to see how that plays out as we go through the rest of camp.”
If you are at the practices on a regular basis, covering the team, it is easy to see the trust Covey is getting from Hurts and backup Kenny Pickett as training camp unfolds.
Offensive Coordinator Kellen Moore was asked to compare Covey to The former Dallas Cowboys great slot receiver Cole Beasley.
“Certainly,” Moore said at a recent press conference. “Cole was an awesome player. Obviously in Dallas, I played with him. Then when I transitioned to coaching, he was still playing there.
“Brit has done an awesome job. He has done a phenomenal job. He's taken advantage of opportunities, like a number of these receivers; we're excited with the depth there.
“These guys have done a nice job of hopping in there, taking advantage of situations, and it's going to be a collective group. We'll utilize all these guys. It's a long season. You need them all.”
COVEY IS NOT THE ONLY WR STANDING OUT
Ross is hanging tough. With Campbell missing a few days with a groin issue, they all get more of the opportunities Moore was referring to.
Ross was asked what is his calling card t these coaches.
“I think it’s obvious, it’s my speed, my speed component<” said Ross, who came out of retirement to try out for the Eagles. “Also with Parris Campbell, I think we bring a speed component to this offense. Not that AJ and DeVonte don’t bring a speed component; we just add that addition to it…which can always be added to any offense.”
Ross was asked what he has learned from the Eagles top two receivers.
“To be a dawg, you’ve got to be a dawg every day,” Ross said. “They do what they’re supposed to do every single day. That’s the biggest thing I’ve learned from them.
“Not that I didn’t know how to be a pro, but those are two pros who do the same thing every day. They have a routine…and one you see that, you kind of fall in line on how to be good
Covey seems to have the top pole position going into the preseason schedule. But don’t be surprised if Sirianni and Moore make the third receiver spots a threesome. *
Email Al Thompson at al.thompson@footballstories.com
Some stats from Wikipedia.com and pro-football-reference.com
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