Eagles Move Jordan Mailata to IR
PHILADELPHIA (973espn.com) - A back injury shut an Eagles player down for the season on Friday.
But, it wasn't that injury and that player as Eagles coach Doug Pederson continues to play games with starting quarterback Carson Wentz, who is being labeled as questionable for Sunday's game in Los Angeles with a "stress injury" that could take up to three months to heal.
Instead, rookie offensive tackle Jordan Mailata was placed on injured reserve with his own balky back after a rookie season with which the raw prospect dressed for three games but did not play in any.
To replace Mailata on the roster the Eagles elevated linebacker B.J. Bello from the practice squad, a further indication that middle linebacker Jordan Hicks will miss his fourth consecutive game with a calf injury.
Mailata, the 6-foot-8, 350-pound former Australian rugby player, was a seventh-round draft pick back in April and offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland has raved about his potential although the Eagles have always viewed him as a long-term project.
Bello is a 6-3, 230-pound 'backer out of Illinois State, who was signed to the practice squad on Oct. 16. He was originally an undrafted free agent signed by Cleveland last season where he made the Browns and played in all 16 games, notching six tackles.
Finally, the Eagles also signed former Rutgers guard Kaleb Johnson to the practice squad.
-John McMullen covers the Eagles and the NFL for 973espn.com. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen