The Philadelphia Eagles will be adding wide receiver Tiger Jones, currently of the Arena Football League's Philadelphia Soul, to the roster for the start of training camp, Ed Barkowitz of the Philadelphia Daily News reported in Friday's edition.
To avoid having an injury derail his NFL opportunity, the 30-year-old Jones, who leads the AFL in receiving yardage this season, will not be playing for the Soul for the rest of the year.
"It's definitely bittersweet, but you can't pass up an opportunity like this," Jones said. "They don't come around like this every day, especially in the Arena league. A lot of NFL (personnel) guys look at us like we can't make the transition. For them to give me a shot says something."
Jones figures to have his work cut out for him.
The top three spots in the Eagles' receiver rotation are locked down by DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin and Jason Avant. Riley Cooper, 2012 sixth-round pick Marvin McNutt and undrafted return specialist Damaris Johnson, who received a large financial guarantee despite missing all of last season, have the inside track on the last three spots, if the Eagles even keep six receivers heading into the season. The Eagles kept five for much of last season.