Eagles sign Broncos practice squad player after attempting to claim ex-Washington cornerback, report says

There was a lot of intrigue about what the Eagles would do with the empty spot on their 53-man roster. The team ended the speculation Tuesday by addressing their secondary.

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The Eagles announced they had signed Franklin “Mac” McCain III off of the Denver Broncos practice squad. McCain, a rookie out of North Carolina A&T, was not selected in the 2021 draft but joined the Broncos as an undrafted free agent.

McCain recorded three total tackles in the preseason but was ultimately waived during final cuts before the team later signed to the practice squad.

McCain has ties to a historic part of American history. According to The Undefeated’s David Squire, McCain is the grandson of Franklin McCain, one of the four men who sat down at a lunch counter in a Woolworth’s in Greensboro, NC, during the height of the civil rights movement.

The Eagles needed some depth at the cornerback position. After the top three cornerbacks of Darius Slay, Steve Nelson, and Avonte Maddox, there are questions about who can be a consistent contributor. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said the Eagles were interested in claiming Jimmy Moreland, a cornerback who was recently waived by the Washington Football Team. However, the Houston Texans were higher on the waiver priority list, and claimed Moreland, leaving the Eagles to look for other options.

Josiah Scott was supposed to be the backup nickel cornerback but is currently on injured reserve for a hamstring injury.

Rookie Zech McPhearson showed some promise in training camp, showing an ability to use his long arms to break up passes. However, like any other rookie, McPhearson was inconsistent, struggling in the preseason game against the New England Patriots when former Patriot quarterback Cam Newton targeted McPhearson several times.

The team also claimed Andre Chachere off waivers from the Indianapolis Colts last week, having him play nickel cornerback and safety. Chachere was already familiar with defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon, with Gannon serving as the Colts defensive backs coach last season.

McCain could be a long shot to suit up for Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons because he has to learn the Eagles defensive playbook.

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Chris Franklin may be reached at cfranklin@njadvancemedia.com.