Reggie Wells to get a look as Eagles' right tackle
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Reggie Wells to get a look as Eagles' right tackle
Daily News staff and Les Bowen
Down the line, we might decide this was the move that stabilized the right side of the Eagles' offensive line. Or, the moment when we knew the team was desperate and grasping at straws.
The Eagles announced today that they have signed Reggie Wells, and head coach Andy Reid said Wells would "continue the competition" at right tackle.
Wells, 30, joined the Eagles last Sept. 3 after a trade with Arizona, for a sixth-round pick. He had been a starter on a Super Bowl runnerup team in 2009, so the assumption a year ago was that he was being brought in to start, at guard or tackle. That didn't happen. Then-offensive line coach Juan Castillo was a stickler for o-linemen playing his "vertical set" system, which Wells hadn't played before, and didn't adapt to quickly. Wells soon got buried on the bench; as the season wore on, reporters who covered the team figured that given the choice, Castillo would rather start one of the security guards than Wells.
But Castillo is running the defense now, the o-line lacks a clearcut right tackle starter, and Wells (6-4, 318), with 91 career o-line starts, was available. Center Jamaal Jackson suggested Wells might be a better fit for current o-line coach Howard Mudd's "quick set" philosophy than he was for what Castillo wanted.
(Jackson is experiencing the opposite problem. He confirmed to Comcast SportsNet.com's Reuben Frank today that rookie Jason Kelce will take the first-team reps this week, as the Eagles prepare for a home preseason game Thursday against the Browns.)
"I don't know what my reaction about being back is," Wells said. "I definitely enjoyed last year. It didn't work out like everybody thought it would, but it was a learning experience."
Wells, who flew in from his home in Arizona, arriving at 6 am, in time for today's light practice, said he has "played all over."
Reid said Wells was brought in for depth last year and never really had the chance to compete for the job.
"It's just the way it went. We were winning early, and the guys we had in there, I thought they were doing a solid job," Wells said. (Though right tackle Winston Justice labored down the stretch with a knee injury, and is still rehabbing from surgery.) "I think along the way I learned this system, got some quality experience with it."
Wells appeared in 8 games, starting once, in a meaningless Week 17 loss to Dallas.
He said he last started at right tackle in an early season game in 2009 for Arizona, against St. Louis.
Asked his preference, Wells said: "Being on the field is my preference, be it at tackle, guard, center, tight end, whatever you want to call it."
Reid said King Dunlap did a "fairly nice job" against Pittsburgh and is the starting right tackle for now. Dunlap got the first-team reps in practice Saturday.
Ryan Harris returned to practice today after missing last week with back spasms. Incumbent starter Winston Justice remains sidelined after offseason knee surgery.
Reid said Justice is making progress and is close to being able to return, but he still has pain in his affected knee, and can't plant or "stick" that leg in the ground as hard as he can the other leg.
To make room on the roster, the club has released WR Brandon Caleb and DT Charlie Noonan. Noonan, from St. Joe's Prep, was cut and then brought back in advance of Thursday's game and then cut again. Basically, Noonan came back because Jose Acuna, a DT the Eagles got on waivers from the Cowboys, is dealing with a family medical situation and has not been able to report yet, Reid said.
Our prayers have been answered.— ej610- The interesting stat is he spent 78 games at left guard, 10 at right tackle. Could they be considering him at RT? Or, placing him at his natural position at LG and moving Herramens to RT? Why sign him? Do they simply feel he is better than most of the other backup OGs on the roster and want him for insurance?— Commish
- Definitely interesting. Mudd has a couple of games under his belt now.— Grazman
- Makes about as much sense as Chaney, Matthews and Fouku at LB.— dasher
- Camp fodder— Ssteve115
- This team will NOT win the Super Bowl. Bad Karma.— ManU63
- Andy really must go. His choice to keep Vick, his inability to never ever draft a defensive stud, how he just casually lets true leaders walk ( Dawkins, Bradley...). How many more years will he be given to get us to the Super Bowl. At some point dont you feel bad about taking money from your boss and NOT getting your job accomplished ?— RealizticFan
- Bradley a leader? Thats the funniest thing I have read all day. Well, when he wasn't on injured reserve.....
- RealizticFan
Realiztic?! What's wrong with his decision to keep Michael Vick?! Who would you have kept at Quarterback? The problem with letting Bradley walk is that they haven't replaced him with anyone. Allen had a bad "preseason" game..but I think he'll be fine.— tkotanch - I guess this more of the "all in" strategy. We should have signed Babin last year when he was on our roster and drafted Earl Thomas at safety. but Andy just can't seem to put together consistently good drafts. Which is why we will not win a Super Bowl with him.— mick-of-the-moment
- Hopefully this means they're moving Herremans over to RT and this guy will move to Todd's vacated G position. Enough of this merry-go-round at RT!— bcoon1966
- It's about time lets get together and chant; FIRE REID!— Bubba James
- this might sound dumb but why dont they just use their best tackle to play RT which is jason peters. plus hes gettin paid not to be a LT but to protect the QB's blind side— philly sports
- Fire Reid. Bring in Gruden.— Tyrone Biggums
- In bringing all these guys in this year, the front office basically told Reid: you have 2 years to win a Super Bowl. He has 3 years left on his extension. He won't see the 3rd without a Lombardi trophy.— thomaspfoolery
