PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — NFL practice squads have been mostly meant for young, developing players hoping to work their way into an organization. New rules, however, allow teams to add veterans with unlimited experience to their practice squad, which is exactly what the Eagles did on Sunday.
Josh McCown, 41, is the oldest practice squad player in NFL history, according to ESPN.
McCown was Carson Wentz's backup last season, and he played the majority of the Eagles' playoff loss to the Seahawks after Wentz suffered a concussion. In his one season with the Eagles, McCown developed a very good rapport within the quarterback room, including Wentz. Albert Breer wrote in this week's Sports Illustrated Monday Morning Quarterback column that Wentz has wanted McCown with the Eagles as a resource.
The key element of this move is McCown will be practicing extreme social distancing from the rest of his quarterback room peers, miles and miles and miles away from Wentz and his backups — Nate Sudfeld and Jalen Hurts. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, McCown will stay in Texas where he lives and participate in meetings virtually.
He will be an emergency quarterback if that position unfortunately becomes compromised by the coronavirus or injuries.
Multiple reports indicate McCown will make $12,000 a week, which amounts to $204,000 over a 17-week NFL season. Not bad work if you can get it.
This move was well-received after the news of it broke on Sunday.
And, of course, there was some good natured, humorous reactions as well.
This will be McCown's 18th NFL season. If all goes well, he never steps foot on a professional football field this year.
