Running low on linemen, Birds sign veteran Joseph
PHILADELPHIA » With its rush defense a running joke and nose tackle Jordan Davis sidelined at least two more games, the Eagles signed 34-year-old run stopper Linval Joseph on Wednesday.
The Eagles are the fourth career stop for the two-time Pro Bowler Joseph, who four years ago picked up a Carson Wentz fumble and motored 64 yards for a score to lift the Minnesota Vikings to a 23-21 victory over the Eagles. Joseph was drafted in the second round of the 2010 draft by and spent his first four seasons with the New York Giants.
Anybody repulsed at the sight of the Eagles being shredded for 168 and 152 rushing yards the last two weeks would welcome any big body to the defense. If Joseph (6-4, 326) is in reasonably good shape, the Eagles will roll him out this weekend as they hit the road to take on the run-heavy Indianapolis Colts. Their feature back, Jonathan Taylor, ran for 147 yards and a score in a win over Las Vegas last week.
“We had an opportunity to add a good player that we played against last year and who made things very difficult for us last year in that Chargers game,” head coach Nick Sirianni said. “We think he’s the right type of guy for the locker room. We think he’s still a heck of a football player and he’s going to be able to help us.”
Defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon and linebackers coach Nick Rallis are familiar with Joseph from their days in Minnesota. Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson and guard Isaac Seumalo remember that loss to Joseph and the Vikings in 2018. Seumalo was the closest any Eagle got to him on the fumble return.
“Yeah, he had to get oxygen after that,” Johnson said. “He’s a big dude. It’s hard to move big dudes like that. That guy’s 340 pounds — and that’s being generous. He’s going to take up two guys if he’s out there. So, I’m excited about him coming in. He’s a good player and I think he definitely should help us.”
Defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, who tops the Eagles with 7.0 sacks, already is feeling younger. The addition of Joseph means the D-line room includes veterans Robert Quinn (32), Brandon Graham (34) and Fletcher Cox, who turns 32 next month.
“He’s a monster,” Hargrave said of Joseph. “He’s been a great player in the league. He brings a lot to our defense, and we know he can help a lot. In the run game, he can definitely help with a big body. You can’t really teach that. He’s a big body and he’s been playing ball for a long time, so he really knows the ins and outs.”
Davis and his sprained ankle aren’t eligible to come off injured reserve for at least two more games. After the Colts, the Eagles visit Green Bay, then host the Tennessee Titans, the latter with 250-pound runner Derrick Henry. The coaches have their fingers crossed that Joseph, who didn’t arrive in time to practice Wednesday, will give them a lift.
•••
The injuries are piling up for the Eagles.
They put defensive tackle Marlon Tuipulotu (knee) on injured reserve, a setback for the secondyear player. A.J. Brown (ankle), Britain Covey (thigh), Cox (foot), Jason Kelce (ankle), Haason Reddick (thigh) and DeVonta Smith (knee) all were limited in practice Wednesday. Cornerback Josh Jobe (hamstring) didn’t practice.
The Birds activated tight end Tyree Jackson from the PUP list and signed safety Marquise Blair to the practice squad.
The Eagles also opened the 21day practice window for defensive end Janarius Robinson.
•••
Colts interim head coach Jeff Saturday, who played center for the organization from 1999-2011, has been a big fan of Kelce.
Saturday said the late Howard Mudd, the longtime offensive line coach of both the Colts and Eagles,
was 100 percent right in predicting stardom for Kelce. Kelce once stopped by Saturday’s place to say hello on a trip back to Ohio.
“What an incredible player, an unreal career,” Saturday said on a conference call. “Just love his style and everything about him and the way he carries himself. He’s been one that I’ve always pulled for and appreciated.”