Eagles Bringing In Braxton Miller to PS

PHILADELPHIA (973espn.com) - The Eagles have agreed to terms with former Houston Texans wide receiver Braxton Miller and are expected to sign the former Ohio State standout to the practice squad, pending a physical, according to an NFL source.

The move was first reported by Alex Gleiman of CBS Sports.

The Eagles need help at WR with Alshon Jeffery still recovering from offseason shoulder surgery and Mack Hollins' on injured reserve with a groin issue.

Miller, a third-round pick of Houston in 2016, was a star QB in college with the Buckeyes and has been trying to make the transition at the professional level which has been difficult.

Miller managed just 15 receptions during his rookie season and followed that up with 19 as a sophomore but his yards-per-catch is a pedestrian 7.7 over those 34 total receptions.

Ironically the Eagles released Greg Ward, the former University of Houston QB trying to move to WR at the professional level, along with Rashard Davis understanding they needed to upgrade the talent at the position. Miller was released at the 53-man cutdown by the Texans earlier this month.

Despite being without Jeffery and Hollins during the season-opening 18-12 win over Atlanta on Thursday, Doug Pederson stuck with his default setting on offense, 11 personnel (one running back, one tight end and three receivers), against the Falcons, lining up with that grouping 74 percent of the time, according to ProFootballFocus.com.

Nelson Agholor predictably got the most playing time with 68 snaps followed by Mike Wallace with 66. The surprise was DeAndre Carter getting on the field for 53 offensive snaps. Shelton Gibson (four reps) and Markus Wheaton (two snaps) saw minimal playing time.

"It's based on kind of how we go into each game. It's not a match-up thing or anything like that," Pederson said when discussing Carter's playing time on Friday. "It's just that DeAndre right now is more of an inside receiver and Shelton is more of an outside guy. We moved [WR] Nelson [Agholor] outside a little bit more in this game, which allowed for DeAndre to play. And then we put DeAndre at the point where he was having to block safeties and -- he does a nice job there. It was a little bit by scheme, but also the way the game kind of played out."

The plan was not all that successful, however, as PFF tallied the Eagles as "winning" 28 percent of the plays when they were in 11 personnel against Atlanta. Philadelphia 'lost' 49 percent of the time and 23 percent were graded as a wash.

At 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds, Miller at least has some of the size the Eagles need at the position so he should have an opportunity to push for a roster spot later in the season if he performs well in practice.

The Eagles also released defensive tackle Winston Craig from the PS on Friday and signed DT Treyvon Hester, a former seventh-round pick by the Raiders in 2017. If all goes to plan Philadelphia will also bring back safety Tre Sullivan to the PS if he clears waivers.

Sullivan was released Friday to make room for the recently acquired Deiondre' Hall, who was suspended for Week 1. Nigel Bradham, also suspended for the Atlanta game, took the spot of Hollins on the 53-man roster.

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