Arryn Siposs back to punt for Eagles in season-opener

Arryn Siposs back to punt for Eagles in season-opener

Arryn Siposs has been the Philadelphia Eagles’ punter for the past two seasons, including in Super Bowl LVII, the final game of the 2022 NFL campaign.

But when the Eagles set their 53-player roster for the 2023 season, Siposs wasn’t on it. But he’ll still do the punting and handle the holding on place-kicks during Philadelphia’s season-opener against the New England Patriots on Sunday afternoon.

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The former Auburn punter is an example of the growing manipulation of NFL practice-squad rules by the league’s coaches.

Philadelphia waived Siposs on Aug. 29 when it reduced its 90-man preseason roster to the regular-season limit even though it did not have a punter among its 53 surviving players. When Siposs went unclaimed during the waiver process, the Eagles signed him for their 16-player practice squad.

Every game, two practice-squad players can be elevated to the active roster. After the game, they revert to the practice squad without having to pass through waivers.

On Saturday, Philadelphia announced Siposs had been elevated for Sunday’s game.

“We think of it this way where all 69 guys could be called upon at any time,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said on Friday. “And so you’re working with a roster not of 53 but of 69, and we’ll be able to do things to get the guys that need to be up for this game.”

A player can be elevated three times during the season. If elevated a fourth time, he must be signed to the 53-player roster.

Philadelphia will open the season against the New England Patriots at 3:25 p.m. CDT Sunday at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.