Eagles sign safety Caden Sterns, who played for Vic Fangio in Denver originally appeared in NBC Sports Philadelphia
Howie Roseman’s search for safety help netted the Eagles a 24-year-old player with three years of experience and four career interceptions.
The Eagles signed former Bronco Caden Sterns on Sunday morning.
But it may be a while before we see him on the field.
sterns, a 5theA first-round pick from Texas has not played since suffering a torn patellar tendon in his left knee in the Broncos’ season opener last year against the Raiders in Denver.
The Broncos released Sterns last Monday, and the Panthers claimed him on waivers but released him Thursday after he failed a physical.
Sterns will join the Eagles immediately, but will not practice or play while participating in what the Eagles call an “acceleration period.” He will be involved in meetings and film studies, learn the defense, stay healthy and attend practices until the Eagles believe he is healthy enough to return to action.
Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who was Sterns’ first NFL coach, said he doesn’t expect to see Sterns on the practice field for at least a week.
“He was a good player,” Fangio said before Sunday’s practice. “He moved well, had good instincts, good ball skills, had a good feel for the game. We just need to see where he is physically.”
The Eagles don’t have much depth at safety behind starters Reed Blankenship and CJ Gardner-Johnson. James Bradberry and Avonte Maddox have moved from cornerback to safety, and Bradberry is now exclusively a safety, while Maddox continues to work the role as well.
There’s also Tristin McCollum, Sydney Brown and Mekhi Garner (another converted corner), although Brown, Garner and Gardner-Johnson are all injured. Garner (hamstring) hasn’t practiced since August 3, Brown is still recovering from his ACL injury from late last year and Gardner-Johnson (shoulder) hasn’t practiced since leaving practice last Monday .
“It’s a position that’s in transition from a roster standpoint,” Fangio said before Sunday’s practice.
Sterns had a very promising rookie year under Fangio, becoming the first Broncos player with at least two interceptions and two sacks as a rookie.
Sterns had two more interceptions in 2022, but his season ended after five games — including three starts — with a shoulder injury he suffered in Week 5 against the Colts.
“He’s only played (six) games the last two years, I don’t think you’ll see him here on the practice field for at least a week or so,” Fangio said. physically, how he’s moving, and then go from there.”
To make room for Sterns on the 90-man roster, the Eagles released linebacker Shaquille Quarterman, who they just signed on Monday. Quarterman was the Jaguars’ No. 4theRound pick in 2020 and played in 63 NFL games without starting.
Quarterman did not play defense in the preseason opener at Baltimore on Friday night and played just two snaps on special teams.
