Former Auburn punter returns to practice for Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles punter Arryn Siposs hasn’t played since sustaining an ankle injury on Dec. 11. But he could be back on the field at Super Bowl LVII.
Siposs returned to practice on Thursday, when the Eagles designated him for return from injured reserve. That doesn’t mean the Auburn alumnus will handle the Philadelphia punts when the Eagles square off against the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL championship game on Feb. 12, but it does allow the Eagles to retore him to active status if he’s ready.
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Siposs got hurt on Dec. 11 in Philadelphia’s 48-22 victory over the New York Giants. He’s missed the six games since, including the Eagles’ two victories in the NFC playoffs to reach the Super Bowl.
Punting from the end zone with Philadelphia on its 2-yard line, Siposs had a punt blocked for the first time in his NFL career. New York linebacker Elerson Smith got a hand on the football, and it landed near the goal line.
Siposs scooped up the football on the move at the Philadelphia 2 and ran for 13 yards. But because it was fourth-and-16, the Eagles lost possession on downs.
Siposs also sustained an ankle injury while getting tackled. He tried to walk across the field to the Philadelphia sideline, but he got medical attention after sitting down on the turf. Following a visit to the sideline medical tent, Siposs was carted to the locker room and hasn’t played since.
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Siposs averaged 45.6 yards per punt with a 39.5-yard net average on 44 punts this season.
Former All-Pro punter Brett Kern took Siposs’ place. In four regular-season games, Kern averaged 40.8 yards with a 36.6-yard net on 10 punts. In the playoffs, Kern has had a 44.1-yard average with a 39.3-yard net on seven punts.
Siposs played for Auburn in the 2018 and 2019 seasons, when he averaged 44.0 yards on 117 punts.
Siposs is in his second season as the Philadelphia punter after spending his first NFL campaign on the Detroit Lions’ practice squad behind Jack Fox, the NFC’s Pro Bowl punter in 2020. In 2021, Siposs averaged 43.9 yards, with a 38.7-yard net, on 55 punts for Philadelphia.
The Eagles and Chiefs will square off in Super Bowl LVII at 5:30 p.m. CST Feb. 12 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. FOX will televise the game.
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.