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Eagles release Jaiquawn Jarrett, bring back Mardy Gilyard

The Eagles finally pulled the plug on Jaiquawn Jarrett, their 2011 second-draft pick, releasing the safety on Tuesday.

The Eagles finally pulled the plug on Jaiquawn Jarrett, their 2011 second-draft pick. (Yong Kim/Staff file photo)
The Eagles finally pulled the plug on Jaiquawn Jarrett, their 2011 second-draft pick. (Yong Kim/Staff file photo)Read more

The Eagles finally pulled the plug on Jaiquawn Jarrett, their 2011 second-draft pick, releasing the safety on Tuesday.

Jarrett was cut to make room for wide receiver Mardy Gilyard, who spent all the preseason with the Eagles but was released on Aug. 31 as the team trimmed its roster to 53.

Jarrett played in the season opener at Cleveland and played 25 snaps on special teams. He did not record a tackle and whiffed trying to take down Josh Cribbs during one kick return.

The Temple product had a rough preseason opener when he filled in for Nate Allen on the first team. Jarrett missed two tackles and misread a pass play that resulted in a touchdown. The Eagles said he improved in the final three preseason games, but he did little to stand out.

Jarrett's release Tuesday is a truer indication of how the team felt about his progression. It was the earliest the Eagles have given up on a second round pick in the Andy Reid era. Linebacker Quinton Caver, who was selected in the 2001 draft, was cut six games into the 2002 season.

Jarrett was chosen 54th overall in 2011. The pick was viewed by some to be a stretch. He was projected by many NFL scouts to be a middle-round talent. The Eagles have not come out and said that they reached for a need in taking Jarrett, a feared hitter in college. But general manager Howie Roseman has said that the team made a more concerted effort to stick to their board in this year's draft.

Jarrett played in 12 games as a rookie last season, but struggled. The team initially said the lack of an offseason due to the NFL lockout had something to do with his slow start.

With Jarrett gone, David Sims becomes the likely top reserve safety behind starters Nate Allen and Kurt Coleman. The Eagles traded for Sims on Aug. 31, sending a conditional draft pick to the Browns for the one-time undrafted free agent.

The release of Jarrett could signal the return of Colt Anderson. The safety has been sidelined since he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee in December. Anderson returned to practice last week and is on the active roster. He has played almost exclusively on special teams but Roseman said two weeks ago that Anderson would be part of the safety pool.

Gilyard was signed Tuesday after he visited with the Eagles. The Eagles are light at receiver with Riley Cooper still out with a broken collarbone. Starter Jeremy Maclin has a hip pointer and his status for Sunday's game against the Ravens is uncertain. Jason Avant has a wrist contusion but Reid said that he expected the Eagles' third receiver to be healthy by Sunday.

If Maclin can't go, rookie Damaris Johnson or the newly-acquired Gilyard could start on the outside opposite DeSean Jackson.

The Eagles also announced that they signed tight end Derek Carrier to the practice squad, taking the place of tight end Chase Ford, who was released.