Eagles Bring in RB Matt Jones

PHILADELPHIA (973espn.com) - The Eagles wanted more competition in the backfield and accomplished that on Wednesday by agreeing to terms with former Washington Redskins third-round pick Matt Jones.

At 6-foot-2 and 240 pounds, Jones, 25, brings a big-back presence into the equation again after Philadelphia lost LeGarrette Blount in free agency to Detroit.

Jones, however, is not nearly as accomplished as Blount and has had major fumbling problems, something that sped up his exit from the Beltway after just two seasons.

A University of Florida product and Tampa native, Jones rushed for 490 yards as a rookie with the Redskins and followed that up with 460 yards in his sophomore campaign, amassing three touchdowns in each season.

His yards-per-rush, however, went up from a poor 3.4 as a rookie to a more-than-respectable 4.6. The problem was the fumbling, eight in 270 touches over the two seasons.

Jones' best career game was against the Eagles, a 135-yard performance during Washington's Week 6 win over Philadelphia in 2016.

The Redskins waived Jones before the start of last season and he was claimed by Indianapolis, where he played in just five games. Jones was released by the Colts on May 1 and reportedly won a three-way tryout with the Eagles, beating out Terrance West and another unknown back.

Jones will join a crowded RB room which already includes Jay Ajayi, Darren Sproles, Corey Clement, Wendell Smallwood, Donnel Pumphrey, and undrafted rookie Josh Adams.

-John McMullen covers the Eagles and the NFL for 973espn.com. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen

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