Eagles could have secret return-game weapon

Philadelphia Eagles RB Rashaad Penny breaks out of a tackle attempt Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Eagles could have secret weapon in return game

By Bruce Ewing | Last updated 9/1/23

Britain Covey led Philadelphia in punt returns and was second in kick return yardage last season. Now he’s on the practice squad. This may sound crazy, but could Rashaad Penny be their guy?

Not according to his NFL stats. In four years with the Seahawks, the oft-injured running back returned just 11 kickoffs and no punts. But as an Aztec, Penny was one of college football’s best returners.

Before joining the Seahawks in 2017, Penny spent four years with San Diego State as one of their primary kick returners. As a freshman in 2014, he returned 20 kicks for 500 yards with a long of 57 yards.

Rush TD ✓
Punt return TD ✓
Kick return TD ✓

Rashaad Penny is one bad man. pic.twitter.com/wH1wUDvkeT
— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) November 19, 2017

In 2015, he posted 804 return yards, three touchdowns with a long run of 100 yards, a number he’d match in each of his next two seasons. Against Nevada in 2017, Penny returned a punt and kickoff for touchdowns en route to 429 yards of total offense, breaking a school record previously held by Marshall Faulk.

Penny finished his college career as SDSU’s all-time leader with 2,449 kick-return yards, scoring eight touchdowns on special teams, seven on kickoffs.

Running back Boston Scott led Philadelphia with 406 yards on kickoffs last season. Covey had just over 500 yards on punts and kicks combined. Neither has returned a kickoff for a touchdown in their NFL careers. Covey returned five kicks for scores with Utah in college, but Scott’s next return TD will be his first.

Earlier this month, Zach Berman of The Athletic reported that the team had Penny catching kickoffs in practice. Philadelphia tied the Los Angeles Rams with 663 yards on kickoffs in 2022, the fourteenth-lowest number in the league.

The Eagles may have a loaded roster, but their special teams could use a boost. With a crowded backfield and a minimal contract for Penny, Philadelphia may have nothing to lose by putting him out there.

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