NFL

Backup QB Nate Sudfeld Signs Tender as Eagles' Phase 1 Begins

It's sort of like the first day of school over at the NovaCare Complex Monday. 

Like many teams, the Eagles are beginning Phase One of their offseason workout plan. While this is all voluntary, many Eagles will be reporting to the team facility, including backup quarterback Nate Sudfeld, who has signed his restricted free agent tender. 

That shouldn't come as a big surprise. Sudfeld, 25, has barely played in the NFL and that second-round tender will pay him around $3 million to be Carson Wentz's backup in the 2019 season. Sudfeld was a sixth-round pick of the Redskins back in 2016, but has been with the Eagles since 2017 and has been on the 53-man roster since midway in that season. 

The Eagles could have used an original-round tender on Sudfeld and paid him about $1 million less for this upcoming season, but that would have left open the possibility for another team to poach him. The Eagles again showed their commitment to the QB prospect by slapping that second-round tender on him, which pretty much tells other teams to back off. If another team wanted to sign Sudfeld to an offer sheet, the Eagles would have been able to match and if they couldn't, the team that signed him would have to give up a second-round pick to the Birds. 

Sudfeld has played just three career games, but he'll have an important role in 2019, taking over the backup position from Nick Foles, who is now with Jacksonville. Based on Wentz's injury history over the past couple seasons, Sudfeld could be an important piece to this puzzle. 

While the Eagles can be back in the building in an official capacity today, there's nothing that even resembles football going on over there. All of these rules are mandated by the CBA. 

In Phase One, which lasts two weeks, it's basically all strength and conditioning work. Coaches aren't even allowed on the field yet with players. And footballs can't be used, unless quarterbacks want to throw to uncovered receivers or kickers want to kick. No helmets either. 

After these two weeks, Phase 2 begins. Coaches are finally allowed on the field for individual drills, but still not team drills or 1-on-1s. 

Phase 3 is when things actually look like football. That's the start of OTAs. Eagles OTAs are the following days: 

May 21-23, May 28, May 30-31, June 3-6. 

The only mandatory portion of the Eagles' offseason is the minicamp June 11-13. After that, the players are free until the start of training camp in late July/early August. 

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