Bradberry Injured At Practice

[UPDATED: 1:30 p.m.]

One of the Eagles’ potential game day roster issues could be resolved, as a reported long-term injury to defensive back James Bradberry could prompt the team into a roster transaction.

Bradberry, the veteran cornerback-turned-safety who only made the 53-man roster because he’s owed a ton of money, reportedly sustained a lower-leg injury in Wednesday’s practice and will be on the shelf for potentially two months, per the NFL Network.

#Eagles veteran DB James Bradberry suffered a lower leg injury during yesterday’s practice, sources tell me and @TomPelissero.

Although surgery is not required, the injury involves a tendon and recovery time for an injury of this nature is approximately 6-8 weeks. pic.twitter.com/GvIGxudgIr

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 29, 2024

The Eagles confirmed the injury. With an expected recovery timetable of at least six weeks, Bradberry on Thursday was placed on Injured Reserve with designation to return, a move opened a spot on the team’s 53-man roster.

ITB PHOTO: DB James Bradberry could be out two months because of a lower-leg injury at practice, per NFL Network.

The Eagles didn’t keep a backup center, third tight end or sixth wide receiver on the initial 53-man roster but stocked its practice squad with several candidates to fill those roles.

But the team instead chose to sign veteran Oren Burks from the practice squad, arming the Eagles with six off-ball linebackers, an unsually high number that suggests more moves coming.

NFL rules allow teams to elevate two players from the practice squad from each game, and each player is allowed a maximum of three elevations for the regular season.

The likeliest scenario for next Friday’s season opener against the Packers in Sao Paolo, Brazil, is the team elevating veteran center/guard Nick Gates and tight end Jake Stoll. But other moves could change that scenario.

In other moves, as predicted on the most recent Inside The Birds pod, the Eagles filled Burks’ spot on the practice squad with offensive lineman Brett Toth, who was with the team in camp and part of the final wave of cuts.

The 53-man roster spot that opened when Bradberry went IR seemed likely for Stoll, who was recently waived by the Giants before coming back to the Eagles’ practice squad.

Stoll spent his first three seasons with the Eagles, and his blocking and special teams acumen make him the ideal third tight end behind Dallas Goedert and Grant Calcaterra.

Stoll, however, has no experience in offensive coordinator Kellen Moore’s system, much like new wide receiver Jahan Dotson.

Bradberry is in his second season of a three-year, $38 million extension he signed after his second-team All Pro nod in 2022, but he encountered steep decline last year to the point where he lost his starting job and was phased out of the future plans this past offseason when the Eagles used their first two picks on cornerbacks.

With no other options, and a contract too big to unload, the Eagles moved Bradberry to safety for training camp. Bradberry mostly worked with the backups, but the Eagles kept four other safeties ahead of him, including converted nickelback Avonte Maddox, essentially guaranteeing that Bradberry would inactive on game day.

– Geoff Mosher (@geoffmoshernfl) is co-host of the “Inside the Birds” podcast and staff writer for InsideTheBirds.com.