December 06, 2023
Justin Evans was a starting safety for the Philadelphia Eagles to begin the 2023 season, which, for him, is now over.
After starting four games, Evans went on injured reserve with a knee injury. During the bye week in advance of the Eagles' Week 11 matchup against the Chiefs, the Eagles activated the 21-day practice window for Evans' return to the team. He was a limited participant in practice that week, but did not practice at all in advance of the Eagles' games against the Bills and 49ers.
Because the Eagles did not add Evans to the active 53-man roster before his 21-day practice window expired, he will now revert to season-ending injured reserve.
Evans was a Buccaneers second-round pick (50th overall) in 2017 out of Texas A&M. He had a productive rookie season in 2017 (in the stat sheet, at least), when he had 66 tackles, 3 INTs, and 6 pass breakups. However, his career has since been derailed by injuries.
• In 2017, he was placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury, and he missed the last 2 games of the regular season.
• In 2018, he missed six games with a toe injury, once again landing on injured reserve to finish the season.
• In 2019, he missed the entirety of the season with an Achilles injury.
• In 2020, he started training camp on the PUP list, and was waived in December with a failed physical designation.
• In 2021, he wasn't on an NFL roster.
• In 2022, he signed with the Saints and played in 15 games, starting four. He missed the last two games with a shoulder injury.
• And, as detailed above, in 2023 he signed with the Eagles, won a starting job in training camp, but only played in four games before his season ended with a knee injury.
The Eagles had interest in trading for Evans during training camp last year, but they instead ended up dealing for his then-teammate Chauncey Gardner-Johnson. When healthy, Evans was a competent player for the Eagles, but while on the shelf with an injury he lost his starting job when the Eagles dealt for Kevin Byard at the trade deadline.
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