As most of the country prepares for Super Bowl LII this weekend, hundreds of football players are preparing for a different football game, or should I say season.
Next weekend, the Alliance of American Football will kick off their inaugural season, with eight teams getting ready to play 10 weeks of football through the end of April. These players are using this league as a chance to add more film to their arsenal in hopes of landing a spot on an NFL team's roster, and fight for a chance of making a 53-man NFL roster in September. With Week One right around the corner, AAF teams has set their initial roster, and 27 players with ties to the Eagles made rosters and will suit up next week.
Three other players not initially listed on that list are P Brad Wing (Memphis), LB Danny Ezechukwu (San Antonio), WR Darius Prince (San Antonio), WR Seantavius Jones (Atlanta) and TE Connor Hamlett (Arizona), which brings the total number of former Eagles in the AAF to 27.
Most of these players were ones that were considered "Training Camp bodies", and never really had a fair chance at making an Eagles roster. However, there are a few names from that list that did end up playing games in an Eagles uniform, and even made some impact on the field:
Josh Huff was drafted by the Eagles in the 3rd round of the 2014 NFL Draft and played 34 games in midnight green. He collected 48 catches for 482 receiving yards and 4 receiving touchdowns. Huff also added two kick return touchdowns in his three seasons in Philadelphia.
Dexter McDougle played in 10 games for the Eagles, recording seven tackles, one pass defended and one QB hit.
Ed Reynolds was drafted by the Eagles in the 5th round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He played in six games for Philadelphia, registering 21 tackles, one pass defended, and one interception.
Jerome Couplin dressed for eight games as an Eagle.
C.J. Smith dressed for 10 games as an Eagle.
De'Vante Bausby played in six games as an Eagle, recording 14 tackle.
Terrell Watson played in one game for the Eagles, rushing for 28 yards and 1 touchdown.
Ron Brooks played in six games as an Eagle, registering 12 tackles one pass defended and one fumble recovery.
If any of these players impress in their playing time from next weekend through April, some could get phone calls from the Eagles once again and find themselves back in Philadelphia fighting for a roster spot.
