PHILADELPHIA -- Last week, the Philadelphia Eagles faced the possibility that center Jason Kelce might not be able to play against Detroit because of a knee injury.
Their options would have been limited if Kelce had been unable to play. Josh Andrews and Julian Vandervelde were the only available backups who could play center.
Kelce played the entire game against the Lions. That near-miss, though, likely explains the Eagles’ decision to sign center/guard Barrett Jones from the Chicago Bears' practice squad Monday.
To clear a roster spot, the Eagles released Vandervelde for the fourth time this year.
Jones was selected by the St. Louis Rams in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL draft. The 6-foot-4, 310-pound Jones played his college football at Alabama. He was with the Rams for two seasons but never started a game.
Jones was released by the Rams this year and spent times on the Steelers and Bears practice squads.
The Eagles signed two players to their own practice squad. Cornerback Mike Lee and linebacker Brandon Hepburn filled the vacancies opened when wide receiver Jonathan Krause and defensive back Ed Reynolds were added to the 53-man roster.
“We had a spot and he's a kid that each week, when we're out here in training, has stuck out to us,” Kelly said of Krause. “If he has a good week in practice, we'll see where that puts him.”
Lee, an undrafted rookie from Fort Valley State, was in training camp with the Falcons this summer.
Hepburn went to camp with the Eagles. He was on their practice squad last season.