Already with nine players on their roster from Alabama, the Philadelphia Eagles added to their practice squad on Friday a wide receiver who played for the Crimson Tide.
Waived by the New England Patriots last week, Javon Baker returned to the NFL by signing with Philadelphia’s practice squad, the Eagles announced on Friday.
Baker played at Alabama in the 2020 and 2021 seasons, when he had nine receptions for 116 yards and one touchdown. Baker’s TD was the first touchdown pass of Jalen Milroe’s career – a 24-yarder during Alabama’s 63-14 victory over Southern Miss on Sept. 25, 2021.
Baker joined New England after two seasons at UCF as a fourth-round selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. He had a 12-yard reception and three kickoff returns for 79 yards while on the field for 90 offensive snaps and 28 special-teams plays in 11 games as a rookie.
Baker made the Patriots’ initial 53-man roster when New England trimmed its preseason roster to the regular-season limit last week. But after adding quarterback Tommy DeVito from the New York Giants and defensive back Charles Woods from the Los Angele Rams as waiver claims, the Patriots waived Baker to create roster space.
Philadelphia released outside linebacker Antwaun Powell-Ryland from the practice squad to make room for Baker. Powell-Ryland had joined the Eagles as a sixth-round selection in the NFL Draft on April 26.
Each NFL team can have a practice squad of 16 players. Members of the practice squad do everything the players on the active roster do except play in games. But two practice-squad members can be elevated to active status for each game, although no player can be elevated from the practice squad more than three times in a season.
The Philadelphia practice squad already included tight end Cameron Latu and cornerback Eli Ricks, a pair of Alabama alumni.
Former Crimson Tide players on the Eagles’ active roster include:
Jihaad Campbell, linebacker
Landon Dickerson, guard
Jalen Hurts, quarterback
John Metchie III, wide receiver
DeVonta Smith, wide receiver
Tyler Steen, offensive lineman
Byron Young, defensive tackle
Philadelphia kicked off its 2025 season on Thursday night with a 24-20 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. The Eagles play the Kansas City Chiefs on Sept. 14 in their next game.
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at@AMarkG1.
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