After a season‑long wait, Philadelphia Eagles return specialist J. Covey turned the tables on Monday night, racking up 54 punt‑return yards and 103 kickoff‑return yards in a single game.
Covey spent most of 2024 on the sidelines, and he said, “Hey, it’s never fun,” reflecting on the frustration of riding the bench. He added, “You see things on film that make you wish you could be out there. It took a few more games than I was hoping, but nothing surprises you anymore in the league. And I understood it would come at some point.”
The Eagles began the season with Jahan Dotson handling punts, but after a month the team shifted to Xavier Gipson before releasing him. Kick return duties followed a similar pattern, with John Metchie, Tank Bigsby, Will Shipley, Gipson, and even A.J. Dillon each taking turns.
Covey’s patience paid off when the Eagles re‑tendered him late in November, and he made his season debut against the Bears after signing to the 53‑man roster.
Covey was one of the NFL’s best punt returners in 2023 but missed most of 2024 due to shoulder and neck injuries. After the Eagles didn’t tender him, he signed with the Rams, was cut after training camp, and returned to Philadelphia on the practice squad.
During Monday night’s game, Covey returned three punts for 54 yards and four kickoffs for 103 yards against the Chargers, a performance that earned him a place in the team’s return history. He said, “I never wanted to leave, so it felt good to come back,” adding, “I knew that this was eventually going to be in the cards, I just didn’t know when.”
His three punt returns averaged 18 yards, and his four kickoff returns averaged 25 yards, making him only the fourth Eagles returner ever to achieve at least 18‑yard punt returns and 25‑yard kickoff returns in the same game. The last player to do so was Brian Mitchell against the 49ers in 2002, who posted 33.0 and 35.7 yards respectively.
Covey’s career punt return average climbed from 11.3 to 11.6 after Monday night, surpassing Darren Sproles for the highest average in Eagles history among players with a minimum of 75 returns. He now sits at the ninth‑highest punt return average in NFL history (minimum 75 returns) and holds the record for the highest average by an undrafted player.
Despite the late‑season surge, Covey had spent most of the year on the practice squad, and he recalled, “I still tried to do my best to coach up people.” He added, “I still tried to be involved in coaching. But it’s not the same, the vigor that you approach it with when you are out there.”
Covey also spoke about his mindset, saying, “You know, I’m a big believer in the abundance mentality, what my grandpa (bestselling self‑help author Stephen Covey) used to teach, that life isn’t a finite pie of opportunities and I don’t want to keep all my knowledge and things to myself.”
Reflecting on his return, he said, “I feel so much passion for it, more than I ever have, and a desire to kickstart my career.” He also noted, “I feel lucky.”
Covey concluded, “I feel like I’m the best player that I’ve been, and you just hope for those opportunities. It doesn’t come to everyone, so I feel lucky.”
His journey—from missing most of a season due to injury, to bouncing between teams, to finally re‑establishing himself on the Eagles’ active roster—underscores the resilience that defines his career.
With his record‑setting return game and historic averages, Covey has cemented his place in Philadelphia’s history and in the broader NFL narrative.
Now back on the field, Covey’s story serves as a reminder that perseverance and belief can translate into tangible success, even after years of uncertainty.
