Caden

Sterns

The Eagles add Philips as a practice squad slot-receiving option, behind Jahan Dotson and Britain Covey, who are listed as the slot wideouts on the Eagles’ active roster. Philips has dealt with injuries through his two NFL seasons so far, catching 23 passes in 13 games played for the Titans. The Eagles also signed OL Jack Driscoll to their practice squad, while releasing S Caden Sterns and TE Kevin Foelsch to make room.

Sterns was released by the Broncos last week and now has a new home in Philly. The former fifth-round pick has played in 21 games in his career while making five starts but has played in just six games over the last two seasons due to injuries. Sterns has a chance to provide some added depth to an Eagles secondary that has attempted to reconfigure itself this offseason in hopes of achieving better results than they had last year. In a corresponding move, the Eagles released linebacker Shaq Quarterman.

Broncos HC Sean Payton told reporters Monday that the team informed Sterns that they intend to release or trade him so that he can prepare for the situation. The 6-foot-1, 207-pound safety has flashed solid potential since being a fifth-round selection out of Texas in 2021, but he hasn’t been able to stay healthy and was limited to just five games due to a patellar tendon injury. There should be interest in Sterns on the open market.

The training staff has yet to determine the injury’s severity but the Broncos are already in a tough spot at safety. The front office released four-time second-team All-Pro S Justin Simmons this offseason and both S Caden Sterns (patellar tendon) and S Delarrin Turner-Yell (ACL) are currently on the active/physically unable to perform (PUP) list. P.J. Locke is the only active Broncos safety who logged triple-digit defensive snaps last year, though he worryingly earned a 55.2 PFF coverage grade.

The report comes from NBC Houston’s Aaron Wilson, who notes the Broncos also moved S Caden Stearns (patellar tendon) and S Delarrin Turner-Yell (ACL) to the active/PUP list. Sanders ruptured his Achilles tendon in late April. Initial reports suggested the team was hopeful he could return before the 2024 season ends. His move to the active/PUP list, rather than the reserve/PUP list, is a positive step in this regard. Should he remain on the active/PUP list entering the regular season, he will be eligible to return against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 5.

Sterns was carted from the field in the second quarter of Week 1’s loss to the Raiders, and is now expected to be done for the season. The third-year safety was expected to step into a bigger role heading into this season, and has four interceptions in 21 career games.

Sterns departed early in the second quarter and was immediately ruled out for the remainder of the game with a knee injury. He will undergo further testing before a diagnosis is made.

Sterns (6'1/207) is yet another safety in this class with plenty of experience playing from a two-high safety structure. At Texas, Sterns primarily played to the offense’s passing strength and was regularly asked to carry wide receivers from the slot. Though not the smoothest in man coverage, Sterns showed a great ability to drive on what was in front of him, both from a split-field alignment and when rolled down into a nickel position. Sterns is also a fiery tackler near the box and to the flats, which is where his 4.40 speed and explosive 42-inch vertical jump shows up most. Sterns shows some shades of a discount version of Ronnie Harrison.

He’s declaring for the 2021 NFL Draft and will begin training for the pre-draft process immediately. Sterns (6'1/207), who posted a career-high 13 tackles in what turned to be his last college game, last Friday’s 23-20 loss to Iowa State, posted 52 tackles, 1.5 TFL, one interception and three pass breakups in seven games this year. Sterns joined stud OT Samuel Cosmi in opting out following the loss to the Cyclones, which eliminated Texas from Big 12 title game contention. Sterns, the No. 19 overall prospect in the class of 2018, was the highest-ranked DB in 247Sports Composite history to sign with the Longhorns. He was first team All-Big 12, the Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year and a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award in 2018 as a true frosh before a knee injury limited him to nine games as a soph. We presently consider Sterns a late-Day 2 or early Day-3 prospect who has the ability to crack the top-60 with a big pre-draft showing. Pro Football Network’s Dalton Miller comps him to Grant Delpit.

Sterns (6'1/205) has not played since Sept. 21 due to a knee injury. The star sophomore is one of the best defensive backs in the country when healthy. Just how much initial work Texas gives him after the long layoff remains to be seen, but Sterns practiced without apparent issue this week.