The Eagles placed rookie safety Drew Mukuba on Injured Reserve Wednesday and promoted punt returner Britain Covey from the practice squad to the 53-man roster.
Mukuba broke his ankle Sunday in the final seconds of the Eagles’ loss to the Cowboys in Arlington, Texas. He had started all 11 games and was playing well, but he faces surgery and his season could be over.
Xavier Gipson, who has been the Eagles’ primary punt returner, is dealing with a shoulder injury and missing both practices this week and isn’t expected to play against the Bears Friday.
Jahan Dotson began the season bringing back punts, but he’s averaging 33 offensive snaps per game. So when the Eagles signed Gipson on waivers after he was released by the Giants, he became the primary returner. He’s averaging 10.8 yards per return.
“I’m excited to get back out there,” said Covey, who hasn’t played since the Eagles’ Week 13 win over the Ravens in Baltimore last Dec. 1. “It’s been frustrating not playing, honestly. You’re a competitor and you want to be out there, but you just stay prepared and ready for when your time does come.”
Covey led the NFC with 14.4 yards per punt return in 2023, then missed most of last year, also with a shoulder injury. The Eagles didn’t tender him after last season, making him a free agent. The Rams signed him, then released him after training camp, and the Eagles brought him back on the practice squad, where he’s been ever since.
Covey’s 14.4 average in 2023 is 3rd-highest in franchise history (minimum one return per team game), behind Brian Westwrook (15.3 in 2003) and DeSean Jackson (15.2 in 2009).
Among Eagles with 50 or more returns, Covey’s 11.3 career average is 7th-highest, behind Ernie Steele (14.7), Steve Van Buren (13.9) and Pat McHugh (14.0) from the 1940s, Brian Westbrook (12.8), Brian Mitchell (11.7) and Darren Sproles (11.7).
The Eagles have not placed Lane Johnson on IR, so they expect there to be a chance he could be back from his foot injury faster than four games.
The Eagles on Wednesday also placed rookie offensive tackle Luke Felix-Fualalo on practice squad Injured Reserve. Felix-Fualalo has been on the practice squad since Aug. 28, also the same day Covey signed to the practice squad.
Felix-Fualalo, who’s from Australia and played at Utah, spent time with the Seahawks before joining the Eagles.