Dameon Pierce did not make the Philadelphia Eagles’ initial 53-man roster, but his return on the practice squad showed the organization has not dismissed his talent and ability to be a productive NFL running back. NBC Sports Philadelphia's Reuben Frank asked general manager Howie Roseman how the Eagles convinced a veteran such as Pierce to return without an active-roster spot.
“Sometimes you just run out of time,” Roseman said. “You run out of time in terms of guys get nicked during camp, they miss some time, you see in flashes.”
Pierce missed valuable training camp and preseason work with a hamstring injury. That absence prevented him from building momentum in a backfield competition featuring Saquon Barkley, Tank Bigsby, Will Shipley and Carson
Steele.
Philadelphia ultimately kept Barkley, Bigsby and Shipley on the active roster. Pierce and Steele returned on the practice squad, giving the Eagles two experienced options who can be promoted if injuries affect the position. Roseman suggested that Pierce’s standing could have been different if the roster decision had arrived later.
“You realize that and you have the conversation that maybe if you’re there for three games that the conversation will be different,” Roseman said.
Pierce has already shown that he can handle an NFL workload. He rushed for 939 yards as a Houston Texans rookie and brings a physical style that fits between the tackles. The Eagles did not have enough healthy summer work to justify giving him one of three active-roster spots. They saw enough to want him available if circumstances change.
“You want them part of the team,” Roseman said. “You know that if called upon, they can do their role at a high level.”
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Howie Roseman explains why Dameon Pierce missed Eagles roster
