Getting Familiar With Blasingame

The Eagles continued to tinker with their practice squad, announcing the signing of veteran fullback Khari Blasingame on Tuesday and releasing wide receiver John Ross in a corresponding move.

Blasingame, 28, has played for both the Titans and Bears, appearing in 66 games (21 starts) over his six seasons. He appeared in two games for the Bears this season before being released in late October.

The fullback addition notably occurs on the heels of losing linebacker/fullback Ben VanSumeren, who suffered a season-ending knee injury during Friday’s practice.

VanSumeren, by the way, underwent knee surgery Tuesday in Los Angeles.

GETTY IMAGES: The Eagles, down on tight ends and fullbacks, signed FB Khari Blasingame (41), a former teammate of A.J. Brown’s, to their practice squad.

The Eagles appear intent on continuing their fullback usage, as tight end Grant Calcaterra fulfilled VanSumeren’s role Sunday against the Ravens.

But with Calcaterra once again vaulting into a starting role because of a Dallas Goedert injury (more on that in a moment) the thinking here is that Blasingame provides a contingency plan.

The Vanderbilt product originally entered the NFL in 2019, signing with the Titans as a rookie free agent.

On Monday, the Eagles waived veteran wide receiver Parris Campbell from the 53-man roster after just having signed the Ohio State product from the practice squad to the active roster on Saturday.

Campbell, who got one target in Sunday’s win against the Ravens, played 50% of the team’s offensive snaps and delivered a key block on Saquon Barkley’s 25-yard touchdown run.

But Campbell was merely veteran insurance, as the Eagles entered short-handed at wide receiver without DeVonta Smith and Johnny Wilson. Parting with Campbell, who can still return to the practice squad, suggests the Eagles are getting healthier at the position.

The Eagles on Sunday also lost Goedert to a knee injury and facing an uncertain timetable for his return. The injury leaves the Eagles razor-thin at the position in terms of the active roster, with Calcaterra as the team’s only healthy tight end on the 53.

Moving Campbell off the 53-man roster creates a spot for either C.J. Uzomah or E.J. Jenkins, a pair of practice squad tight ends who have both exhausted their three elevations. Uzomah would give the Eagles a veteran behind Calcaterra, but Jenkins, who has made notable strides as a blocker and is better suited to contribute on special teams, might be the better fit.

– Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com.