Goedert To IR – Again

PHILADELPHIA – The Eagles made a series of moves ahead of Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers, placing TE Dallas Goedert (knee) on Injured Reserve and signing TE E.J. Jenkins to the 53-man roster in a corresponding move.

As I wrote about here earlier in the week, the team also elevated safety Andre’ Sam and fullback Khari Blasingame from the practice squad to the active roster. This marks the first of three eligible elevations for each player.

GETT IMAGES: TE Dallas Goedert is headed to IR for the second time this season and will miss at least four games.

Sam, 25, was signed as a rookie free agent out of LSU – where he earned the team’s Defensive Player of the Year – after spending a season at Marshall and his first five seasons at McNeese State.

He’s spent the entirety of his rookie season on the Eagles’ practice squad, often setting weekly goals to challenge himself in practice.

Sam’s work ethic and commitment behind the scenes was noted by fellow safety Tristin McCollum, whose own opportunity knocks Sunday against the Panthers.

“He reminds me of kind of the position I was in in previous seasons, where you’re kind of p-squad but you have a lot of veteran guys ahead of you that you could look at,” McCollum said this week. “He gets to work. He comes in – I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s the first one in the building. And he’s one of the last ones to leave.

“He’s always in the weight room getting extra work. So, you can tell he really cares about it, and he really knows that his opportunity is coming, too.”

As for Blasingame, the six-year veteran who arrived at the NovaCare Complex on Wednesday, his crash course in the offense wasn’t as steep as it ordinarily would be at other positions.

The 28-year-old, who played in two games this season for the Bears, 66 games (21 starts) over his career, should add another spark to the running game. But Blasingame wasn’t elevated to merely take on a handful of offensive snaps. Look for Blasingame, who has registered 860 special teams snaps in his career, to also contribute in the third phase.

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