Birds are hoping TE Okwuegbunam can get in the flow
The Eagles’ offense is brand new for tight end Albert Okwuegbunam, who appreciates teammates like Dallas Goedert for breaking down the concepts and showing him the way.
But the biggest transition for Okwuegbunam has been trying to teach Eagles players, coaches and media how to pronounce his last name. It’ s“Ow· koo· way· boo· na am .” Say that three times fast, Merrill Reese.
Though the Eagles were more than happy with Goedert, Jack Stoll and Grant Calcaterra, they just had to have Okwuegbunam. They sent a 2025 sixth-round pick to the Denver Broncos for the 25-year-old fourth-round pick out of Missouri and a 2025 seventhround pick.
The 6-foot-5 Okwuegbunam clocked a 4.49 40-yard dash at 258 pounds prior to the 2020 draft, and his 34-inch arms certainly fit the growing profile of Eagles imports.
That deal was struck Tuesday before the 4 p.m. roster cutdown. Subsequently the Eagles kept all four tight ends as well as only four wide receivers. Not Okwuegbunam’s problem.
“The last 48 hours, it’s been kind of crazy just getting acclimated to a new city, a new team and a new culture,” he said. “But it’s been great. All the guys here have really helped with the transition. They’ve been super welcoming.”
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said head coach Nick Sirianni was impressed with Okwuegbunam’s numbers in the last preseason game. The big guy caught seven passes for 109 yards (15.6 ypr.) and one touchdown from Jarrett Stidham in a 41-0 win over the Los Angeles Rams.
Truth be told, the Eagles were much more impressed that Okwuegbunam caught three balls for 77 yards, including a 64-yarder in a 30-13 loss to the Eagles at Empower Field in November of the 2021 season. Those throws were from Teddy Bridgewater, of all quarterbacks.
“We ended up losing that game,” Okwuegbunam said. “(Darius) Slay had a pick and returned it for a touchdown. But it was a good game for me.”
Slay actually took a fumble 83 yards to the house, but who’s counting? If Okwuegbunam can recreate any of those plays, the Eagles might have to revamp the rotation at tight end or split Goedert out at wide receiver.
“It’s a fresh start,” Okwuegbunam said. “I’m really excited for the opportunity. I’m a really hard worker. I really want to win. I know some of the guys here, Stoll and Grant. Stoll actually is from Denver, so I knew him a little bit just from training around the area.”
Correctly pronouncing Okwuegbunam, on the other hand, is a work in progress.
Eagles safety Reed Blankenship cannot wait to share the back end of the defense with rookie Sydney Brown, who has two speeds – here he comes and there he goes.
“He’s a hard worker,” Blankenship said. “Very smart. Sometimes it’s hard to tell that he’s a rookie or not and that’s a good thing. He flies around the field. And obviously it’s better to slow guys down than speed them up. He’s going to be a great player for us.”
Barring a dramatic change, running back Kenneth Gainwell will begin the 2023 season the same way he ended the 2022 campaign. Gainwell is the starter, until further notice.
“I feel real good, I feel comfortable knowing that we all have a role on this team to get back to the goal,” Gainwell said. “I’m very excited about the roles we’ re going to have and what we can do. Basically, we’re going to do what we do, work hard and have each other’s back.”