Eagles Reopen Practice Window for Ojulari After 2-Month IR Stint

Eagles Reopen Practice Window for Ojulari After 2-Month IR Stint

> At a Glance

> – The Eagles have opened the 21-day practice window for edge rusher Azeez Ojulari, who has been on Injured Reserve since November 1

> – Ojulari has only appeared in three games this season after signing a one-year, $3 million deal in March

> – Why it matters: With just weeks left to activate or shut him down, his return could bolster an already deep edge rotation for the playoffs

The Philadelphia Eagles have activated Azeez Ojulari from Injured Reserve, giving the veteran edge rusher a three-week runway to prove he can help down the stretch.

The Injury & Timeline

Ojulari landed on IR after straining his hamstring in the October 23 win over Minnesota. He has not practiced or played since, missing the last nine games.

Teams must decide within 21 days whether to promote a player to the active roster or keep him sidelined for the remainder of the season.

A Quiet Season So Far

Signed after four years with the Giants, Ojulari has managed only:

  • 34 defensive snaps vs. Denver (Week 4)
  • 29 snaps in the first Giants meeting (Week 7)
  • Early exit versus Minnesota (Week 8)

Stat line through three appearances: six tackles, one tackle-for-loss, one QB hit.

Crowded Edge Room

Even without Ojulari, the Eagles have rotated:

  • Nolan Smith – recently returned from IR
  • Brandon Graham – team sack leader
  • Jaelan Phillips – mid-season waiver claim
  • Jalyx Hunt – rookie seeing situational reps
  • Josh Uche – played 18 snaps vs. Washington

The club must weigh whether a sixth edge defender fits into game-day rosters with postseason seeding at stake.

Contract Status

open

Ojulari is on a non-guaranteed one-year pact. He will be an unrestricted free agent in March, meaning the next three weeks could determine his market value and whether Philadelphia shows interest in a second season.

Key Takeaways

  • Ojulari has three weeks to practice and be activated or his 2024 campaign is officially over
  • The Eagles have five other edge players competing for snaps
  • The former Giant’s $3 million salary becomes guaranteed only if he is on the roster each week
  • Philadelphia closes the regular season with Dallas, the Giants, and a likely playoff push

How Ojulari looks in practice this week could decide whether the Eagles add another body to the pass-rush rotation or save the roster spot for special-teams help.

Author

  • I’m Olivia Bennett Harris, a health and science journalist committed to reporting accurate, compassionate, and evidence-based stories that help readers make informed decisions about their well-being.

    Olivia Bennett Harris reports on housing, development, and neighborhood change for News of Philadelphia, uncovering who benefits—and who is displaced—by city policies. A Temple journalism grad, she combines data analysis with on-the-ground reporting to track Philadelphia’s evolving communities.

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