Boston Scott's job is essentially waiting.
Waiting for a teammate to get hurt. Waiting to get signed to the active roster. Waiting for a chance to play on Sundays.
And being prepared once that happens.
With Darren Sproles out indefinitely with a quad injury and Corey Clement's shoulder injury now sending him to Injured Reserve, the Eagles promoted Scott on Friday from the practice squad to the 53-man roster.
Along with a raise from $8,000 to $33,529 per week comes the opportunity Scott's been waiting for since the season began.
It's been a long time coming," Scott said. "Just been trying to do my best to keep my head down and just keep working. I've been getting great work against the No. 1 rush defense in the league, as of right now. So it's been some really good work and I've been getting in some catching extra. You never know when that opportunity may come, but when it does I'm going to be ready.
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Scott opened a lot of eyes in training camp with his tough inside power running and his knack for catching the ball and eluding tacklers after the catch.
But with Sanders, Howard, Sproles and Clement, there was no room on the roster.
Now there is.
It's all about your preparation," Scott said. "Your preparation leads to your success. Whether you're on the bottom of the depth chart, I was a walk-on at Louisiana Tech, no matter bottom of the depth chart or you're a starter, you've just got to be ready for that opportunity, so it's all in your preparation and how you handle each day as though you were playing.
Scott, originally a sixth-round pick of the Saints last year, spent most of the 2018 season in New Orleans before the Eagles signed him in mid-December. He played in each of the last four games, handling kick returns and contributing some reps on special teams
His role Sunday in Minneapolis?
We'll see.
But Miles Sanders and Jordan Howard are the only healthy running backs on the roster right now. Clement, Sproles and Nelson Agholor have been handling punt returns, but ideally the Eagles would like to have Agholor focus on offense, so you could see Scott out there fielding punts.
I don't even necessarily know what my role is going to be just yet, it's still kind of fresh," he said. "So my answer to that is however they want me to contribute, that's what I'm looking to do. Just coming in ready to help.
Scott knows his stay on the 53-man roster could end Monday or could continue the rest of the year.
He's already gone from the Saints' practice squad to the Eagles' roster back to the Eagles' practice squad and back to the 53, all in the span of 10 months.
As a sixth-round pick making minimum wage, he knows nothing is guaranteed.
It's ups and downs, but it really comes down to being in the NFL you try to control what you can control and that's your work habits and what you do outside the game," he said. "Opportunities are going to come, opportutnies may not come, at the end of the day you don't want to have any regrets, so pretty much give it all you got and if the opportunities come let it come.
I don't know if Scott can play in the NFL. I don't know if he'll help the Eagles Sunday in Minnesota. I don't know if this will be the last time I ever write about him.
But I do know he's got the perfect mindset for all this. And I know that if he does get a chance to play, he'll be ready.
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