Three weeks after signing Dexter McDougle off the street and inserting him into their starting lineup, the Eagles have already cut him.
The Birds waived McDougle on Monday as they claimed cornerback Cre'Von LeBlanc, who was waived by the Lions on Sunday.
We’re not sure what this means about the health of Sidney Jones, who has missed the last two games with a hamstring injury, but it at least tells us the coaches didn’t like what they saw from McDougle in London either. Playing the nickel corner spot against the Jaguars, McDougle played 91 percent of the defense’s snaps and had a dreadful game.
The move to claim LeBlanc was announced shortly after the Eagles re-signed De’Vante Bausby to their practice squad. Bausby was released at final cuts, but took some first team reps at the nickel corner spot this spring. It’s hard to imagine he would have been any worse than McDougle in London.
LeBlanc, 24, went undrafted out of Florida Atlantic in 2016, but has been in the league for the last three seasons and has played nickel corner before. After he was waived by the Patriots at final cuts in 2016, he latched on with the Bears and ended up playing in 13 games as a rookie.
In three seasons in the NFL — two in Chicago and part of this year in Detroit — LeBlanc has played in 31 games, with 10 starts. He has two career interceptions and 13 passes defensed.
Obviously, the Eagles hope to have Jones back soon. He was playing pretty well before he hurt his hamstring and he’s their best option. But this move proves the Eagles just couldn’t send McDougle back on the field. Really, it was probably a bad idea in the first place.
NFL
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