Another quarterback has been added to the mix for the Philadelphia Eagles.
The team announced Thursday it has signed Dennis Dixon to a two-year contract. Dixon's agent, Jeff Sperbeck, told NFL.com's Ian Rapoport that incentives built into the deal will become available if Dixon emerges as a starter.
A star under Eagles coach Chip Kelly during his time at the University of Oregon, Dixon spent last season on the Baltimore Ravens' practice squad.
The move was expected. Comcast SportsNet Philly reported two weeks ago that there were "strong indications" Dixon would land with the Eagles once his contract with the Ravens expired.
Dixon was a standout in Kelly's spread offense at Oregon and was widely considered a Heisman Trophy favorite in 2007 before a torn anterior cruciate ligament ended his season after 10 games. The injury knocked him out of first-round consideration in the 2008 NFL Draft, where he was taken in the fifth round by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
In four career NFL games, Dixon has completed 59.3 percent of his passes for 402 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions and a passer rating of 71.4. He's gone 2-1 as a starter.
NFL.com's Ian Rapoport believes the signing signals a three-way competition at quarterback in Philadelphia between Dixon, Michael Vick and Nick Foles. Rapoport asked Dixon during Super Bowl week if he believed Kelly's spread offense could successfully translate to the NFL game.
"I believe so, but everybody has to buy in," Dixon said. "Buy into what Chip Kelly is bringing to the table, and if that happens, the sky is the limit."
Now Dixon gets to be part of that group given the opportunity to make the spread work at the game's highest level. He's an interesting piece of an increasingly intriguing team.
Follow Dan Hanzus on Twitter @DanHanzus.
