Eagles Sign Veteran QB Josh McCown to a 1-Year Deal
After Nate Sudfeld suffered a broken wrist in Week 1 of the Preseason, and Cody Kessler was removed from the Week 2 matchup with a concussion, the Eagles had just one Quarterback to back up Carson Wentz.
Howie Roseman recognized this gaping hole in the depth chart and went to work, signing Josh McCown to a one-year deal, first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Josh McCown did recently retire this offseason but opened the door to returning to the NFL if given the right opportunity. Roseman gave the 40-year-old QB an offer that would be hard to refuse. McCown’s one year deal includes a base salary of $2 million, which is fully guaranteed and can be worth up to $5.4 million. Not only that, but he has the opportunity to sit behind, and mentor Carson Wentz.
The Eagles could have easily signed a low-tier free agent Quarterback or even traded with another team, but instead, they convinced a veteran and capable signal caller in McCown. The deal that he received makes him a near-lock to make the final roster. As stated before, McCown would only come out of retirement if he was given a good opportunity. Therefore, it is likely that the Eagles will keep him on the roster going into Week 1.
Although Josh McCown is one of the oldest players in the league, Eagles fans should be confident in him filling in for a few drives here and there if Wentz suffers a minor injury. In 2018, McCown sat behind Sam Darnold and helped develop him, but in 2017 he threw for over 2,900 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Quarterback Nate Sudfeld is currently recovering from a fractured wrist and should be returning to the team Week 3 or 4 of the regular season. Cody Kessler is now in the NFL’s concussion protocol and needs to be cleared before he even returns to practice. Rookie QB Clayton Thorson has not played up to expectations in training camp or the preseason so far. He is a practice squad candidate. Signing McCown gives the Eagles another QB for the preseason and the upcoming joint practices with the Baltimore Ravens.
Fans could expect for the Eagles to roster Carson Wentz, Nate Sudfeld and Josh McCown for Week 1. In the event that Wentz goes down with an injury, McCown will be the quarterback to step in. When Sudfeld returns healthy, the quarterback room will be improved even more.
Welcome to Philadelphia, Josh! The Eagles are the twelfth team that McCown has played for in his career, and he will wear number 18, per Jeff Mclane.
Featured Photo: Getty Images
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