Eagles sign former draft pick Alex McCalister to practice squad, cut a WR

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The Eagles have brought back a former seventh-round draft pick. 

On Tuesday, they signed defensive end Alex McCalister to their practice squad. To make room for McCalister, they released wideout Rashard Davis, who was brought in just last week. 

McCalister, 23, was a seventh-round pick out of Florida in 2016 but spent his entire rookie season on injured reserve with a conveniently-timed left calf tear. This spring, McCalister admitted he was healthy just a couple weeks into his rookie year. 

Basically, McCalister was stashed on IR all last season for some much-needed bulk building. At 6-foot-6, 239 pounds, he came into the league looking like a flagpole. After a year around NFL nutritionists and trainers, McCalister bulked up to 251 pounds and looked more like a telephone pole.

It did the trick. 

McCalister had a great preseason, leading the Eagles with 3½ sacks. He made the decision really tough on coaches but ultimately, the team decided to stick with veteran Steven Means instead of him. 

McCalister was waived/injured with a hamstring injury and was then released with an injury settlement. The Eagles have obviously kept tabs on him. He might still be a work in progress but McCalister does have some raw pass-rushing ability. 

The practice squad will give the second-year player a chance to develop.

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