Eagles fans, meet Travis Fulgham, the practice-squad wide receiver whose touchdown sparked the win over the 49ers
Fulgham caught a pivotal touchdown pass from Carson Wentz to become the latest practice-squad promotion to make plays for the Eagles.
Eagles wide receiver Travis Fulgham celebrates after edging past San Francisco 49ers cornerback Dontae Johnson to score a touchdown in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 25-20 win.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Most Eagles fans wouldn’t know Travis Fulgham if he passed them walking down the street. Even if he inadvisably wasn’t wearing a mask, most Eagles reporters would even struggle to identify him in a crowd.
None of that mattered during the Eagles' 25-20 win over the San Francisco 49ers Sunday night, though, as Fulgham caught a pivotal touchdown pass from Carson Wentz to become the latest practice-squad promotion to make plays for the Eagles.
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Carson Wentz found Fulgham — a 25-year-old Old Dominion product who had played just three games before Sunday night — for a 42-yard touchdown to give the Eagles an 18-14 lead in the fourth quarter, en route to their first win of the season.
Wentz revealed that he had only run the play with Fulgham during practice once, but it connected then, too.
“When we broke the huddle, I told him to be ready,” Wentz said. “I’ve seen him with this team for a while now going up against our defense on scout team, and what he does to our defense. I’ve been watching him and seeing what he’s capable of doing. I’m just proud of him for coming out here tonight and making plays when asked of him.”
The Eagles added Fulgham to the practice squad after claiming him off waivers on Aug. 20. He came to the Eagles midway through training camp by way of waivers after both the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers each let him go in August. He played three games as a rookie sixth-round pick on Lions last season, but was waived on Aug. 10. He spent 10 days with the Packers before they also sent him on his way.
“It’s definitely been a long year for me, a long offseason,” Fulgham said. “But I came here to Philly and they definitely gave me an opportunity. Working with Carson has been great. Like he said in practice, we hit on it, it was a perfect throw then. In the game, he doubled back with that and gave me a perfect throw and made it easy for me.”
Eagles cornerback Darius Slay (right) tips the final pass of the game away from San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (center) to end the game. The Eagles win 25-20 over the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California on October 4, 2020.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
Eagles’ Travis Fulgham (right) catches a pass as San Francisco 49ers cornerback Dontae Johnson (left) covers him in the 4th quarter. Fulgham scored on the play to give the Eagles the lead. The Eagles play the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California on October 4, 2020.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz (left) avoids a tackle by San Francisco 49ers linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (right) in the 3rd quarter. The Eagles play the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California on October 4, 2020.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle makes a one-handed catch in the 3rd quarter against the Eagles. The Eagles play the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California on October 4, 2020.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz leaps over the pile for the 1st down on 4th and 1 on the 3rd quarter. Wentz got the first down but the Eagles settled for a field goal on the drive. The Eagles play the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California on October 4, 2020.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) makes a touchdown catch in front of Eagles linebacker Duke Riley (50) in the third quarter of a game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz (right) is tackled by San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw (left) on a run in the 1st quarter. The Eagles play the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California on October 4, 2020.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
Eagles defensive end Genard Avery partially blocked and Eagles nose tackle Javon Hargrave(right) sack San Francisco 49ers quarterback Nick Mullens in the 2nd quarter. The Eagles play the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California on October 4, 2020.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
San Francisco 49ers defensive back Jimmie Ward (20) flips over Eagles running back Miles Sanders (26) in the first quarter of a game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Eagles free safety Rodney McLeod (center) celebrates after picking off San Francisco 49ers quarterback Nick Mullens in the 2nd quarter. The Eagles play the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California on October 4, 2020.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw (99) tips a pass by Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz (11), leading to an interception, in the first quarter of a game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
San Francisco 49ers running back Jerick McKinnon (28) breaks a tackle attempt by Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham (55) in the first quarter of a game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Eagles safety Rodney McLeod (23) celebrates a second-quarter interception during a game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Arik Armstead (91) and linebacker Fred Warner (54) pressure Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz (11) in the second quarter of a game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Eagles linebacker Nathan Gerry (47) commits a face mask penalty against San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) in the second quarter of a game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Eagles defensive end Genard Avery (center) and Eagles nose tackle Javon Hargrave (right) sack San Francisco 49ers quarterback Nick Mullens (left) in the 2nd quarter. The Eagles play the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California on October 4, 2020.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk leaps over Eagles safety Marcus Epps on his way to score a 1st quarter touchdown. The Eagles play the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California on October 4, 2020.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
Eagles tight end Zach Ertz (86) scores a two-point conversion oast San Francisco 49ers cornerback Dontae Johnson (27) in the first quarter of a game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz (11) runs for a touchdown in the first quarter of a game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Eagles center Jason Kelce (62) and wide receiver Travis Fulgham (13) celebrate a first-quarter touchdown by quarterback Carson Wentz (11) during a game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Eagles tight end Zach Ertz (86) celebrates his first-quarter two-point conversion with quarterback Carson Wentz (11) during a game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Eagles head coach Doug Pederson stands on the sideline during a game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz (left) falls on the football after the snap went over his head in the 2nd quarter against the 49ers. The Eagles play the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California on October 4, 2020.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
Eagles safety Marcus Epps (22) and Eagles safety Rodney McLeod (23) take down San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) in the first quarter of a game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Eagles tight end Zach Ertz (86) carries the ball during a game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Eagles safety Rudy Ford (36) leaves the field after apparently being injured in the second quarter of a game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz (11) throws past San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Arik Armstead (91) during a game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz (11) congratulates wide receiver Travis Fulgham (13) on his fourth-quarter touchdown during a game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020. The Eagles on 25-20.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Eagles wide receiver Greg Ward (left) celebrates with Travis Fulgham (right) after his 4th quarter touchdown catch against the 49ers. The Eagles play the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California on October 4, 2020.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
Eagles cornerback Cre'Von LeBlanc (34) forces a fumble by San Francisco 49ers quarterback Nick Mullens (4) in the fourth quarter of a game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020. The Eagles on 25-20.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Eagles defensive end Genard Avery (58) pressures San Francisco 49ers quarterback C.J. Beathard (3) in the fourth quarter of a game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020. The Eagles on 25-20.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz (left) avoids San Francisco 49ers defensive end Arik Armstead to keep a play alive in the 4th quarter. The Eagles win 25-20 over the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California on October 4, 2020.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
Eagles tackle Jordan Mailata (68) fist-bumps guard Jamon Brown (66) after a game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020. The Eagles on 25-20.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
He was elevated from the practice squad Saturday because DeSean Jackson, Jalen Reagor, JJ Arcega-Whiteside, and Alshon Jeffery are all injured. The Eagles went into the game with just four healthy receivers.
While Fulgham was hardly a household name in Philadelphia before the 49ers game, he’s been turning heads in practice since he joined the team on Aug. 20. Fulgham finished with two catches — the first of his career — for 49 yards, helping fill the void left by the slew of Eagles' wide receivers out with injury.
“You can ask anybody on the team, he was a guy I actually used to brag on [from] the sideline,” Eagles safety Jalen Mills said. “Once he got in during camp, I’ve literally never seen him drop a ball. I used to always walk up and down the sideline every time he would catch a ball and I would say, ‘I’ve never seen this dude drop a ball in practice. I know once he gets his opportunity, he’s going to make the most of it.”