Britain Covey has been a valuable contributor on special teams for the Philadelphia Eagles during the past two seasons.
Last year, Covey led the league in punt return yards (417) and was considered a Pro Bowl snub. However, his position on the team is not assured as things change quickly in the NFL.
Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report identified Covey as a prime cut candidate, and his argument is strong.
“Britain Covey has managed to remain on the Eagles roster over the last two seasons. His abilities in kick and punt returns have allowed him to participate in 33 out of 34 regular season games. This streak may be tested this summer,” Ballentine wrote on May 8, adding:
“The Eagles placed Covey on alert when they selected Ainias Smith in the fifth round. … Covey has already proven that he is not very effective as a receiver. He had six targets in 2023 and none in 2022.”
Eagles WR Britain Covey Must Up His Game to Avoid Getting Cut
An undrafted free agent from Utah, Covey joined Philadelphia after the 2022 draft. The wide receiver did not receive any passes during his rookie season, only returning punts and kicks. In his first year, Covey returned 33 punts for 308 yards and 10 kickoffs for 206 yards in 17 games.
In his second year, he became a standout player on special teams, especially as a punt returner. He made a memorable career-high 54-yard return in Philly’s Christmas game against the New York Giants:
Covey also contributed as a receiver for the first time in 2023, catching four passes on six targets for 42 yards. However, this low production may be his downfall.
“The Eagles slot position is still relatively open. They added Parris Campbell in free agency, but he’s been injury prone throughout his career. If Smith can prove to be an asset there while offering some return potential, he might bump Covey off the roster,” Ballentine noted.
Therefore, if Covey cannot outperform Smith in training camp and during the preseason, he could lose his job to the rookie.
Ainias Smith Could Be Upgrade for Eagles at WR & Special Teams
The 5-foot-9, 190-pound Smith isn’t much larger than Covey, who is listed at 5’7″ and 175 pounds. However, the former Texas A&M standout may bring much more in terms of production as a wide receiver.
In 12 games with the Aggies in 2023, Smith caught 53 passes for 795 yards (15.0 yards per catch) and two touchdowns. He’s tough and physical for his size, and he’s a skilled route runner.
Smith could also surpass Covey as Philly’s return man. Last year at Texas A&M, Smith averaged 14.3 yards per punt return while also scoring a touchdown.
“His ability to run after the catch, his ability to get in and out of breaks, (and) I think he is extremely tough; I love that about him,” Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said about Smith, via The Philly Voice.
“That’s what stands out. Catches the ball really well. These are the things that really stand out. It’s going to be interesting to see how we can get him the football and different ways that he can contribute both on special teams and on offense.”
It is still early, but it seems that the Covey vs Smith rivalry will be very interesting to observe in the next few months.
