Eagles news: Birds bring back former linebacker, add a tight end and some special teams help; former Cowboys star trashes team

The Eagles are signing tight end Kylen Granson, further bolstering their depth at the position after adding Harrison Bryant earlier in free agency.

Granson’s agency, SportsTrust Advisors, announced the move via social media.

Granson, 26, spent the first four years of his career with the Indianapolis Colts. The 2021 fourth-round pick had 14 catches for 182 yards last season, appearing in 17 games and starting six in an offense run by former Eagles offensive coordinator and current Indianapolis coach Shane Steichen. Granson’s most productive year came in 2023, when the former SMU standout caught 30 passes for 368 yards and one touchdown across 15 games.

A familiar face is set to return to the Eagles locker room.

The Eagles announced on Friday that they agreed to terms on a one-year deal with linebacker Patrick Johnson.

Johnson, 27, was a seventh-round pick in the 2021 draft out of Tulane by the Eagles. He spent the first three years of his career in Philadelphia, primarily suiting up on special teams.

The Eagles continued to add to their corps of specialists on Friday, signing punt and kick returner Avery Williams to a one-year deal, a league source confirmed to The Inquirer.

The Athletic first reported the news.

Williams, who turns 27 in July, spent the last four years with the Atlanta Falcons primarily contributing on special teams. He missed the entire 2023 season while recovering from a torn ACL, but he resumed his career last year, returning 20 punts for 185 yards (9.3 yards per return) and 15 kicks for 408 yards (27.2 yards per return).

Eagles kicker Jake Elliott praised longtime teammate Rick Lovato and appeared to confirm his departure following news the Birds have signed a new long snapper.

"2x Super Bowl Champ, Pro Bowler, 9 years with the Birds. Couldn’t be more grateful to share the field with you," Elliott wrote on Instagram Friday afternoon. "Will miss it all and can’t wait to see where you land brotha!! Philly Legend!"

The Eagles are signing former Cleveland Browns long snapper Charley Hughlett to a one-year deal, which appears to signal the end of Lovato's time in Philly.

Ever since college, Joshua Uche has wanted to be like Brandon Graham.

For a young pass rusher at Michigan, Graham was an obvious on-field role model. He was a first-team All-American, a first-round draft pick, and had grown into a staple on the Eagles defensive front.

But what stood out most to Uche was how giving Graham was off the field.

The Eagles are signing long snapper Charley Hughlett to a one-year deal, according to a league source.

The move likely signals the end of Rick Lovato’s tenure with the team. The 32-year-old spent nine years with the Eagles and appeared in 135 games, winning two Super Bowls and being named to the Pro Bowl in 2019, but entered this offseason as an unrestricted free agent.

Hughlett, 34, spent the last 10 seasons with the Cleveland Browns. He was sidelined for 12 games last year after a ribs injury landed him on injured reserve, but didn’t miss any time in the nine seasons prior. The Browns released the 6-foot-4, 248-pound specialist last month; his 152 games played for Cleveland ranks 15th in the franchise’s history. Hughlett was credited with 26 total tackles during his career, including five assisted tackles in 2023.

The Cowboys suggested in January they wanted to build their roster like the Eagles. Now they’re signing former Birds players. 

The Cowboys plan to sign former Eagles running back Miles Sanders to a one-year deal, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. 

Sanders, 27, was drafted in the second round by the Eagles in 2019 and had his best season in 2022, rushing for 1,269 yards and scoring 11 touchdowns. He signed with the Carolina Panthers in 2023 but was released earlier this week just two years into a four-year, $25.7 million deal. 

The Eagles are bringing a veteran cornerback into the fold, agreeing to terms on a one-year deal with Adoree’ Jackson, a league source confirmed to The Inquirer on Thursday night.

Jackson, who turns 30 in September, brings eight seasons of NFL experience to a young corps of Eagles cornerbacks. Between his first four years with the Tennessee Titans and another four with the New York Giants, Jackson has started 82 of his 97 NFL games.

Given his experience, Jackson figures to have the opportunity to compete for the starting outside cornerback role that was vacated by Darius Slay, who was released at the start of the new league year and signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Kelee Ringo, the Eagles’ fourth-round pick in the 2023 draft out of Georgia, is likely in the mix for the gig, too.

After a slow start that frustrated some fans, the Eagles signed three players Thursday.

None of the additions were flashy. As The Inquirer's Jeff McLane explained, Howie Roseman is shopping in the "bargain racks" looking for inexpensive players with upside.

Here's a rundown of every player the Eagles have added this week:

DeMarcus Lawrence isn't holding back about the Cowboys after signing a three-year deal with the Seattle Seahawks.

"Dallas is my home," Lawrence told Brian Nemhauser of the Hawk Blogger Thursday, "Made my home there, my family lives there, I'm forever going to be there. But I know for sure I'm not going to win a Super Bowl there."

Not surprisingly, Lawrence's comments struck a nerve with former teammate Micah Parsons, who include a clown emoji in his response on social media.