The Eagles added some punch to their special teams unit, agreeing to terms on Saturday with return specialist Avery Williams on a one-year deal.
The NFL's punt return leader in 2022 (16.2 yards per return) comes to Philadelphia having averaged 22.4 yards per kickoff return and 10.9 yards per punt return for his career.
This past season, the 5-foot-9, 200-pound Williams played in all 17 regular-season games and averaged 27.2 yards per kickoff return and 9.3 yards per punt return.
The 26-year-old Williams originally entered the league as a fifth-round pick of the Falcons out of Boise State in 2021. He was drafted as a cornerback, but Atlanta moved him to running back – the position he played in high school – in his second season.
Williams was a walk-on at Boise State. The Pasadena, California native shares the NCAA Division I record with nine return touchdowns (punt and kick combined) during his career, twice earning Mountain West Conference Special Teams Player of the Year honors as well as being named a third-team AP All-American as an all-purpose player in his senior season.