When the Philadelphia Eagles released Josh Jobe at the end of the preseason, the cornerback didn’t know his NFL future lay on the other side of the country as a regular contributor in the Seattle Seahawks’ secondary. But that’s where Jobe will be on Thursday night when the Seahawks square off against the Chicago Bears.

“This opportunity means a lot to me,” Jobe said on Tuesday. “Coming from practice squad, elevated up to play the game I love, I’m very blessed for the opportunity I got. And it’s taking every advantage I have and just playing hard and do whatever I got to do for the team.”

Three days after Jobe’s release by the Eagles, Seattle signed the former Alabama defensive back for its practice squad.

Jobe made his 2024 debut as a practice-squad elevation on Oct. 20 in a 34-14 victory over the Atlanta Falcons, and he played in the Seahawks’ next two games in that manner, too.

Each NFL team can elevate two practice-squad members to active status for each game. Often they join the active roster to provide special-teams support or depth in an injury situation.

But Jobe was in the starting lineup for his 2024 debut and played 165 snaps in his three games while on the practice squad. In the Seahawks’ 31-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Oct. 22, Jobe picked off quarterback Josh Allen and had a 33-yard return on his first NFL interception.

Because a player cannot be elevated more than three times in a season, Seattle signed Jobe to its 53-man active roster on Nov. 11 so he could keep playing. He’s played in every game since, with four starts, including the past three.

“I’d say I’ve been playing well, just getting to start, playing with the secondary,” Jobe said. “I feel good about it. I feel really good. But I still have more work to be done, and just keep getting better.”

Jobe played in 11 regular-season games and Super Bowl LVII as an undrafted rookie in 2022 for the Eagles. Last season, he played in every game, with three starts for Philadelphia. But when Jobe was released by the Eagles in August, he had to work his way back to Sunday football again.

Injuries at cornerback opened an opportunity for Jobe. He has been deployed in nickel packages as an outside corner with Riq Woolen while Devon Witherspoon shifts inside to play the slot.

“Coming in from Philly and coming to Seattle, I know how to work my way up,” Jobe said. “So just working on my craft, learning the playbook and just doing what I do on the scout team to make my teammates better. …

“Know your keys, know your assignment so you can play fast out there. Especially just know your opponents and know what plays they run so you can be out there and play fast and communicate with your teammates.”

Jobe said he’s an NFL cornerback because of former Alabama coach Nick Saban.

“I was always a safety growing up,” Jobe said. “Then with the recruiting process, talking with coaches, talking to coach Saban, I mean, he liked my skill set, how physical I am, so he wanted me at corner, so I couldn’t do anything about it so I tried to control that and just work on the technique, just play as my eye, just play. I guess just play.”

The Seahawks have lost their past two games to the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings, teams that will be in the NFC playoffs. For Seattle to get there, the Seahawks need to overtake the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC West.

With a 9-6 record, the Rams are one game ahead of Seattle with two weeks left in the regular season. A Seahawks’ loss to Chicago on Thursday night and a Los Angeles’ win over the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday night would clinch the division title for the Rams.

It’s possible Los Angeles could clinch even if Seattle wins because of the strength-of-schedule tiebreaker, but that will depend on the outcome of games involving the Minnesota Vikings, Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers, Washington Commanders, Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns.

If Seattle can avoid elimination this week, the Seahawks play the Rams in their regular-season finale on Jan. 5. Los Angeles is one game up on Seattle instead of the other way around because the Rams defeated the Seahawks 26-20 in overtime on Nov. 3.

Seattle plays the Bears at 7:15 p.m. CST Thursday at Soldier Field in Chicago. Prime Video will televise the game.

The Bears have lost nine in a row to fall to 4-11.

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