Eagles roster longshot outshines starters in just 9 snaps vs. Falcons

Ryan OLeary

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Eagles roster longshot outshines starters in just 9 snaps vs. Falcons image

Thomas Booker IV entered training camp with the Philadelphia Eagles this summer as a longshot to make the 53-man roster. A series of plays against the Atlanta Falcons on Monday night showed why he’ll be sticking around a while longer.

Booker made the most of his limited opportunities in the Eagles’ 22-21 loss to Atlanta at the Linc. The 25-year-old defensive tackle played only nine snaps, but still managed to lead the entire Eagles defensive line in solo tackles (3) and tackles for loss (2). 

Booker saw action on early downs in the second and third quarters. His biggest play was a run stuff on Falcons running back Bijan Robinson on first-and-goal from the 3. Booker got the best of dominant right guard Chris Lindstrom, driving him into the backfield to blow up the play for a loss of 1. The Falcons wound up settling for a field goal.

Booker also made a great play on a Falcons screen pass late in the third quarter, dropping Robinson for a loss of 2 yards. 

Watch as Booker slips on the play, but still manages to diagnose the pass and cut Robinson down in the open field:

Booker could be earning himself some added opportunities, as Eagles defensive linemen have struggled through two weeks, especially with getting after the QB. The former Stanford standout was Philly’s highest-graded defensive player by PFF, earning an overall grade of 78.4. 

He’s a hell of a story. The former 5th-round pick of the Houston Texans spent all of last season on the Eagles practice squad. He made an impression last year working primarily on the scout team, and earned his roster spot this summer behind an excellent preseason. Booker had eight pressures and a sack in 70 preseason snaps, an 11.4% pressure rate.

"When you see his tape and his get-off, and his ability to play with leverage, to play with power, to affect the quarterback, to be disruptive around the quarterback in the backfield,” Eagles GM Howie Roseman said after cut-down day in August, "to us, it was clear the guy deserved to be on the team.”

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Ryan OLeary

Ryan OLeary Photo

Ryan O'Leary has spent his entire professional career in sports multimedia, working as journalist, editor, podcaster, and in live events as a content manager and show emcee. His career highlights include working as a podcast host and audio editor for USA TODAY Sports Media Group, where he led a series of NFL podcasts for the company’s top-performing NFL sites. A born and raised New Englander, Ryan’s career kicked-off in newspapers after graduating from the University of New Hampshire with a degree in journalism. He developed an affinity for small-town youth, high school and college sports, while also realizing his childhood dream of covering the Patriots in multiple AFC Championship Games. Ryan enjoys kicking it with family and friends, beating his dad and brother in chess, and arguing with anyone crazy enough to insist that Tom Brady isn’t the GOAT.