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The Philadelphia Eagles have a new problem to solve. They decided not to keep Britain Covey, who was their main punt returner. This means someone else needs to take on that role for the team.
A popular choice might seem to be Cooper DeJean, a young and talented player. But the Eagles already rely on him a lot for their defence. Using him to return punts too often might not be smart, as it could tire him out or put him at risk of getting injured. The team needs to keep him fresh and ready for his main job on defense.
Because of that, attention is turning to other players. One surprising name in the mix is Taylor Morin. He didn’t get picked in the NFL Draft, but the Eagles signed him afterward as a rookie. He played for Wake Forest for six years, and during that time, he showed that he’s both a reliable punt returner and an impressive wide receiver. In his final season, he returned 14 punts for a total of 238 yards, which averages to 17 yards per return, a very strong performance. In total, he collected 809 punt return yards during his college career. As a receiver, he also set big records at Wake Forest, becoming the school’s all-time leader in receiving yards and ranking high in catches and touchdowns.
Other names are being considered, too. Avery Williams was brought in by the Eagles and has experience returning both punts and kickoffs. But he hasn’t been able to participate during the spring due to an undisclosed injury, which has left the job wide open. Another possible option is Ainias Smith, who is going into his second year, and Jahan Dotson, who occasionally practices punt returns as well. There’s also talk that Cooper DeJean could be used only in the most important moments of a game if absolutely needed.
Still, if the Eagles want someone who can focus mostly on punt returns and do it full-time, Taylor Morin might be the best fit. He has experience, speed, and a strong college record. Right now, nothing is decided, but he’s someone to watch as the team makes their choice.