Point Of Return

PHILADELPHIA – Britain Covey made it clear that he never wanted to leave Philadelphia, the city where he’d spent his first three NFL seasons. Complicating matters, however, is that the NFL is a business, and multiple offers on the open market presented he and his family with financial security.

The Los Angeles Rams offered Covey a guarantee, an incentive that often eludes many players in his position.

For perspective, Covey had suffered a broken scapula on Sept. 26 of last season while with the Eagles that landed him on injured reserve. He tried to come back, but the injury lingered, as it was accompanied by nerve issues that impacted his shoulder and neck.

Nerves merely require time to heal, and it wasn’t until May or June that he began feeling like himself again.

Up until the last minute, Covey believed he would make the Rams’ 53-man roster, but when the 28-year-old found himself on the outs in the wake of roster cutdowns, his sights were set on a reunion with the Eagles. To be clear, Covey had the option of signing with “a number” of different practices squads – including the Rams’ – but his affinity for the Eagles organization, coupled with the fact he hadn’t yet moved his family to Los Angeles, made for an easy decision.

As a member of the practice squad, Covey still traveled to games. While he was viewing the game from a different lens on the sideline, and could only watch from afar, Covey adopted the “abundance mentality” that his grandfather used to teach, meaning he would impart wisdom and coach up his teammates the best he could.

But for Covey, who had appeared in 38 regular season games prior to this season, taking in a game as a spectator took some acclimation.

“It’s never fun,” he said. “You see things on film that make you wish you could be out there. I think, for me, having had an injury, I think it’s frustrating because until you go out and do something in a game, I think there’s always a shadow of doubt in people’s minds that you were not fully healthy yet.

“That’s why it was good for me to play preseason, to show. But then, coming here, it was hard. I admit it. It took a few more games than I was hoping, but nothing surprises you anymore in the league. And I understood it would come at some point.”

Eagles RS Britain Covey gave the offense a boost with his punt and kick returns against the Chargers.

The Eagles opened the season with wide receiver Jahan Dotson moonlighting as the punt returner, though Dotson felt more like a placeholder for that role until Covey reentered the equation. Dotson eventually gave way to waiver claim Xavier Gipson for five games as Covey bided his time. When Gipson, who has since been waived, suffered a shoulder injury in Dallas, Covey was finally called from the bullpen to make his season debut on Black Friday – nearly a year since last appearing in an NFL game.

What initially felt inevitable, the punt return role now officially belongs to Covey, who also doubles as a kick returner opposite running back Will Shipley.

In reference to the latter, Covey had only 11 career kickoff returns to his name entering the season, but with the evolving strategy and schematics presented with the new kickoff rules, Covey approaches the added assignment with as much diligence as he does to punt return.

“It’s different,” he acknowledged. “The league is still growing in it. Every week, you see new schemes being added. Everyone is starting to experiment a little bit more with it. I really like it. You can’t quite tell from the film, but one was really close to popping this week. And so, I think part of it is, similar to punt return, is getting on the same page with your blockers of knowing what type of returner you are and where I want them to have their body leveraged and things like that.

“And so, I watch so much film and try to get on the same page, which is such an underrated part to me in the kicking game. It’s not just put any good, fast guy back there. It’s getting on the same page with your blockers. I saw it jump even from the first week to last week, and hopefully continuing. Just getting on the same page, so people understand where my mindset’s at, what I’m looking for.”

In case you were wondering, Covey is as meticulous as he’s always been when it comes to the art of punt return. It’s his preparation, pride and ownership of that aspect of the game that sets him apart from his peers.

Each week, he tries to find at least one, usually two or three, film clips that highlight a specific player with a synopsis of his observations and what to anticipate. Covey typically communicates that to his unit via text message, but he’ll meet with his gunners in person.

Preparation aside, it’s also Covey’s perspective on hidden yards and his role in field position that gives the Eagles an advantage on game day.

“I think that, as a returner, it’s my job … if I catch it at the 8 and get to the 13 – and not caring if my average goes down – because the playbook is so much bigger at the 13-yard line than it is the 8,” he said. “And so, you saw this last [game], I caught it at the 6 thinking if I can even get out to the 10, that doubles the playbook for K.P. [offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo]

“And so, yeah, my average might go down, but it’s a huge play. And kind of seeing the game like that as a returner, I think, is important because it’s putting the team first. And coaches, your unit recognizes that – and that you might take one at any point, so they block harder. I just think stuff like that … starting at the 15 compared to the 20 is a big difference.”

In his second game entrenched as a multipurpose return specialist, within the confines of his former stomping grounds of SoFi Stadium, Covey dazzled.

He rolled up a combined 157 return yards, including a 22-yard punt return in the fourth quarter he advanced from the Eagles’ 5-yard line. Monday night showcased vintage Covey, the quintessential underdog universally beloved by teammates. His return to game action might have taken longer than anticipated, though his time away has given him a newfound appreciation for the game.

“Oh, my goodness,” he said. “Absolutely. Such an appreciation for it and a passion for it. It’s funny, when people say, ‘That’s a vet move’ now, and I look at myself, like, ‘Are you talking to me?’ Because I feel so much passion for it, more than I ever have, and a desire to kickstart my career. And it’s funny how I’m in my fourth year saying that, but it’s true; I feel like I’m the best player I’ve been, and you just hope for those opportunities. It doesn’t come to everyone, so I feel lucky.”

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