The Philadelphia Eagles were lucky when 31 other NFL teams passed on signing wide receiver Britain Covey after he didn't make it through the 53-man roster cuts last offseason. 

Thankfully, the Eagles were able to re-sign him to the practice squad and elevate him on gamedays before officially signing him to their roster in Week 3.  

Covey ended up being the best punter in the NFL last fall as he led the league in return yards (725), averaging 14.4 yards per punt return, and was the only player to log multiple 50-plus yard returns.

The Eagles won't get away with cutting him this year since he more than likely won't be around to re-sign. 

Not to mention, his job as an exceptional return man is going to be more important than ever this season with the new kickoff rule. 

Back in March, the NFL voted on and approved a new kickoff rule for the 2024 season at the Annual League Meeting in Orlando. The goal of the new rule is to make kickoff returns safer while increasing the return rate, ultimately making kickoffs overall more exciting.

Aside from Covey, the Eagles also drafted Cooper DeJean, Will Shipley, and Ainias Smith this past April to help on punt returns. 

Still, Covery remains the best man for the job, and that's something special teams coordinator Michael Clay can agree with. 

"Covey is a great option to have as a punt returner," Clay told reporters during rookie minicamp. "We brought in some guys that do have some punt return abilities. As we move forward, competition usually breeds greatness. Having other guys out there, and also we get to see these guys. 

"If you remember last year from preseason, we didn’t have the greatest amount of numbers of punt returners, so I had to throw Zech McPhearson out there. That does him a little disservice as he hasn’t done it since high school. Having all of these possible punt returners allows them to get some film, get some feel, because these guys having come from college, it’s a different type of animal out there. So having them get the most reps as possible.

"Britain Covey, what he’s done the last couple years as an undrafted free agent and a second-year guy to lead the league in yards and be up there in average, kudos to him. He just keeps getting better and better. His mindset as a returner is something that you rarely see outside of those explosive guys. Covey, I’m very happy to have Britain Covey on my punt returners."

In addition to taking punt return reps, Covey has been getting looks on offense in the slot during OTAs, which is something he's been hoping for this year. 

There's a wide-open vacancy at wide receiver No. 3 right now, so if he can beat out the competition, then the Eagles definitely aren't going to let Covey get away so easily this time. 

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