Eagles’ Eli Ricks received rare words from Howie Roseman that encouraged him to make 53-man roster

PHILADELPHIA — Eli Ricks patiently waited for the Philadelphia Eagles to decide his roster destiny. As the hours on roster cutdown day waned, Ricks was once attempting no longer to take into consideration his scenario — discovering a wide variety of how to go the time.

“I took a fat nap in the morning,” Ricks mentioned with a grin. “Then from like 1 to 4 (p.m.), I just had my ringer on just waiting.”

Ricks did not in finding out he made the Eagles till 3:50 p.m., getting the decision from common supervisor Howie Roseman that he deserved his spot at the 53-man roster. The most effective rookie undrafted unfastened agent to make the workforce. 

The words had been distinctive from Roseman, appearing how a lot the Eagles valued Ricks in this workforce. 

“He told me when I first got here there should be no reason why you shouldn’t make this 53,” Ricks mentioned. “I held onto that this whole time during camp, during this whole process even when I got some doubts. I knew what he told me at the start of camp so I just kept it.” 

Those doubts that Ricks had crept up on him all over the month, understanding he wanted to play smartly within the preseason to make the roster. Ricks did not give you the option in camp to make the ones performs, which is the place the preseason good fortune factored into the equation. 

“It was really just me worried about if I could show my ability because I’m not the first guy going out there on the field,” Ricks mentioned. “And I knew when I got into the game, I was gonna have the opportunity — and I took it.” 

When Ricks did get the chance to show off his talent set within the preseason, opposing quarterbacks wanted to consider carefully sooner than difficult him. Ricks allowed simply six completions on 17 makes an attempt for 89 yards in 3 preseason video games, having an interception returned for a ranking and 4 go breakups. He did permit a landing go, but opposing quarterbacks had a 39.1 passer score when concentrated on him. 

The preseason good fortune was once what were given Ricks onto the Eagles 53-man roster. 

“I came in with that mindset,” Ricks mentioned. “Whenever I do practice or play in a game, I have to make a play.” 

Mario Goodrich can relate to Ricks’ scenario, making the workforce as a former undrafted unfastened agent himself. Goodrich did not make the Eagles 53-man roster in his rookie season, however knew Ricks had the power to defy the chances from the get pass. 

“Eli a dawg. I’m excited for him and seeing where he’s gonna go,” Goodrich mentioned. “The ball skills, putting his hands on guys. Tenacity. Like I said, dawg. He got a chip on his shoulder. As a corner, you gotta have some type of aggression.”

All Ricks sought after was once to end the place he began. He’ll get that likelihood in Philadelphia, a spot he hopes to name house for a very long time. 

“I’ve been to a lot of places since leaving for IMG (Academy) when I was 16,” Ricks mentioned. “LSU, Alabama. I lived numerous puts, so me no longer understanding the place I used to be gonna be at, the place I used to be gonna are living, it intended not anything to me so long as I used to be enjoying soccer. 

“I’m glad it was here. I wanted it to be here.”