Again, Dexter McDougle follows Torrey Smith, this time to the Eagles

Torrey Smith was two years ahead of Dexter McDougle at Stafford (Va.) High School, and then again at the University of Maryland, to which Smith helped recruit McDougle.

Smith was a little less than six months ahead of McDougle in getting to the Eagles.

"I've known Torrey since I was, like, 13 or 14," McDougle said Tuesday, after practicing with the team that traded for him over the weekend, the Eagles sending safety Terrence Brooks to the Jets. "He had a lot of influence [on McDougle going to Maryland].We're from the same hometown. We're real similar people. … It's cool we're back on the same team again – high school to college to the pros."

Smith was Stafford's quarterback and McDougle was one of his receivers. Then they faced each other frequently in practice at Maryland.

"It's not one of those things where people are like, 'Hey! That's my brother, we went to the same school.' No. I talk to his dad every other week; he calls me all the time. He's like real family to me," Smith said. "For him to be here is kind of crazy."

McDougle said his father, also named Dexter McDougle, and Smith are both fishing enthusiasts.

"They talk about fishing, or life in general. It's a real close relationship there," McDougle said.

Smith, a wide receiver who arrived as a free agent in March, had already told McDougle, a cornerback, what he thought of the Eagles organization before the trade.

"I just told him, 'It looks like how it's supposed to look here.' I don't want to fire any shots or anything, but he's been in a place where there's been a lot of change, it hasn't been as stable," Smith said.

McDougle said he practiced Tuesday in the nickel role and broke up a pass intended for Smith. He was a third-round pick of the Jets in 2014, but his career has been marred by a succession of injuries. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said the Eagles' defensive concepts should be familiar to McDougle, who is wearing No. 36, but the terminology will be new.

"Very quick. Top-of-the-line ball skills," Smith said, when asked to assess McDougle, who is listed at 5-10, 195. "He's always had, like, these fluke injuries … He looks the best I've ever seen him. He's in great shape and he's playing well."

"I got my weight down, I got my body fat down. I'm able to fly around," McDougle said. "When I'm on the field, I make plays."

McDougle isn't assured of making the team, but he reportedly was having a strong preseason for the Jets.

Teams are enjoying being able to keep a maximum of 90 players through the final preseason game, with only one cut to 53, by 4 p.m. Saturday, instead of the previous early-week cut to 75, several days ahead of the reduction to 53.  But there is a downside, coach Doug Pederson noted. If you're looking to pick up a player or two, the evaluation process is condensed, with more players to look at.

"It's going to be extremely difficult, because so many guys are going to hit the wire on short notice," Pederson said. "It's hard to evaluate them all. You just don't have enough man-hours to get the job done."

Pederson said personnel staff prep work, anticipating who might get released, is key, "and then it just becomes a feeding frenzy a little bit to claim players and see if somebody can fit into your scheme. I'm sure we'll be active; we usually are, to fill out not only the roster but practice squad guys."

Backup quarterback Nick Foles didn't practice, this time because of illness, Pederson said. Pederson said he would be "comfortable with him not playing" Thursday in the preseason finale, though he hasn't decided whether Foles will play. Foles missed the first three tuneup games with elbow soreness … Defensive tackle Beau Allen, back from pec tendon surgery, said that his return to practice has gone well this week and that he would like to get some work against the Jets … Malcolm Jenkins, asked for a favorite Jon Dorenbos memory, recalled the magic show Dorenbos put on at an event for Jenkins' charity foundation: "His grand trick involved him pulling his pants down, and literally pulling a card out of his, uh, tail."