The Eagles just dropped some major roster news on Wednesday, officially opening up the 21-day practice windows for four players to return from injured reserve: offensive guard Landon Dickerson, tight ends Eli Stowers and Grant Calcaterra, and cornerback Jakorian Bennett. Plus, they snagged DB Dean Clark for the practice squad. This isn’t just a simple procedural move for all these guys; there are some real questions about who actually makes it back onto the active roster and what they’ll bring to the field.
The Big Question Mark at Left Guard
Let’s be real, the biggest name on this list is Landon Dickerson. This dude’s a three-time Pro Bowler, usually a rock at left guard. But get this: he just became eligible to return from IR after the Eagles’ Week 5 game, and his Week 1 performance was rough. He was playing through an injury back then, and he flat out admitted after the game that he was “a complete liability.” Ouch. That’s a brutal self-assessment, but maybe an honest one.
So, the huge question now is: is Dickerson *truly* healthy? You gotta wonder if those previous injuries have taken a toll and left him physically diminished long-term. The smart money says the Eagles won’t rush him back into the starting lineup. But hey, I could be wrong. If he does come back, you’d expect him to slot right back into his normal spot, but this whole situation is definitely one to watch.
Tight End Room Just Got Way Too Crowded
Now, the tight end situation? That’s a whole other mess, and it just got more complicated with Eli Stowers and Grant Calcaterra getting their practice windows opened after the Eagles’ Week 4 game.
First, Eli Stowers. The rookie tight end’s journey to IR was super weird. He told reporters he was set to play in Week 1, then he was questionable, then downgraded a day later because the Eagles apparently found he was “more injured than initially realized.” The buzz was that he might’ve been a healthy scratch for the season opener anyway. He was pretty much invisible during offseason practices and preseason games, never getting any first-team reps, so he hasn’t exactly built chemistry with Jalen Hurts. And it’s not like he’s a blocking specialist or a special teams ace.
The Eagles already have Dallas Goedert, Johnny Mundt, and E.J. Jenkins on the roster. Plus, Zach Ertz is on the practice squad and they’re out of temporary elevations for him, meaning they’d have to sign him to the active roster if they want him on game days. Stowers definitely needs reps to get better, so it’s good he’s practicing, but honestly, how does this guy fit on the game-day roster? It’s a head-scratcher. They’re probably not in any hurry to activate him.
And then there’s Grant Calcaterra. Oh yeah, *that* guy is still on the team. Like Stowers, he’s just another body in an already crowded tight end room. The team already has plenty of options, so it’s tough to see a clear path for Calcaterra, either.
The Eagles have a lot to sort out in the coming weeks. While it’s great to see players getting closer to a return, the real challenge for the coaching staff is figuring out who’s truly healthy enough to contribute and who actually has a spot on this roster moving forward. Keep an eye on Dickerson’s practice reports; his return could be a game-changer, but only if he’s truly past that “liability” stage.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleeding Green Nation.
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