Eagles

Jordan Mailata Placed on IR

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Paul Bowman
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Paul Bowman Sports Editor

Penn State Great Valley MBA, Penn State Berks Undergrad, Eagle Scout and Vigil Honor, IT Service Manager. I joined Sports Talk Philly in 2017 and root for all the Philly teams (as well as their minor league counter parts).

All posts by Paul Bowman
Sports Editor

Published14 Dec 2018

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By Paul Bowman, Sports Talk Philly Editor Jordan Mailata Placed on IR

What has it been, three days without the Eagles placing someone on IR? Well, the Birds added promising young left tackle Jordan Mailata on that list today.

Mailata, a seventh-round pick in this year’s draft, is an Australian native who had never played football prior to this season. He was expected to be stashed on the practice squad as a developmental player, but his play in the preseason was so far advanced for someone who did not know the game that the Eagles had to keep him on the 53-man roster to make sure they wouldn’t lose him to another team.

Mailata has inspired international prospects already, so, if he should pan out, expect to see more international players drafted and the draft evaluation processes change around the league.

The Australian rookie had missed practice with a back injury on Thursday. With Mailata not expected to play anyway, this move may just be to protect him and pull someone who may be more ready to contribute to the active roster.

BJ Bello, an undrafted free agent linebacker in 2017, appeared in all 16 games with the Cleveland Browns last season, registering six tackles. In the 2018 preseaon, he registered 13 tackles and a sack with the team before being in the final round of cuts for the team.

He signed with the Eagles practice squad midseason when the Birds promoted Tre Sullivan back to the active roster in the wake of Jay Ajayi landing on IR.

His spot on the practice squad is filled by guard Kaleb Johnson.

Johnson was an undrafted free agent out of Rutgers in 2015. He has yet to play in a NFL game, but has spent time with the Ravens, Browns, Cardinals, Bears, Chiefs and Vikings.