Can a preseason fan favorite re-emerge this season?
9 November 2016 Eagles News
When the Eagles released Josh Huff, the move opened up a spot on the current 53 man roster. As of now, that spot has yet to be filled. Today, Coach Doug Pederson hinted at some players he expects to compete for the open roster spot. One of the names mentioned was our favorite player, Paul Turner.
“We’ve got some guys we’re evaluating on our practice squad,” Pederson said. “You know, Paul Turner, and Aaron Grymes.” He made it aware that the Eagles do not need to rush this move. They will take their time with it. There is no guarantee either Turner or Grymes are promoted.
Let’s look at the two candidates?
Let’s first look at Paul Turner. Turner had a great preseason for the Eagles. He led the NFL in receiving yards with 165 and receptions with 17. He also returned a punt for a touchdown versus the Jets. He was the Eagles preseason MVP for sure. In a time when Eagles receivers struggle with drops, Turner has caught every pass thrown to him as an Eagle.
After being released by the Eagles on the final day of roster cuts, Turner was signed to the Eagles practice squad. People are often asking themselves why Turner has not been on the 53 man roster already.
Turner can be the Eagles consistent receiver. He was Mr. Relaible in the preseason. He makes every catch. I have seen him compared to the sure-handed Jason Avant. I’ll just say this, every team needs an Avant, someone who they can count on to make a catch.
Aaron Grymes is even more intriguing than Turner. Grymes was not just fighting for a roster spot, he was fighting for a starting job. When Jalen Mills went down injured, Grymes took over as the first teams’ slot corner. Grymes was playing like a man on a mission. He even made one of the best interceptions of the preseason. However, an injury on the same interception ended his preseason and the Eagles released him shortly after. However, just recently, Grymes was signed back to the Eagles practice squad.
Grymes will have an immediate impact with the Eagles. Let’s face it, he cannot do much worse than Leodis McKelvin. The cornerback group is very slim, maybe it will be a wise decision to promote him.
Do we know if Turner or Grymes will be activated to the 53-man roster? The answer is no. Not only can the Eagles evaluate their practice squad, but also the other 31. However, we do know they do have one spot to fill. Whether it is Paul Turner or Aaron Grymes, the Eagles can look no further than their own practice squad when choosing a player. There are two players on it who can walk into the Eagles team and make a difference.