Atlanta Falcons linebacker Rashaan Evans recorded 159 tackles during the 2022 season, the seventh-most in the NFL. But when the 2023 NFL season kicked off last week, Evans wasn’t on a roster.

That changed on Tuesday, when the Philadelphia Eagles announcedthe former Alabama All-American had joined their practice squad.

Philadelphia signed Evans after linebacker Nakobe Dean sustained a foot injury in the Eagles’ 25-20 victory over the New England Patriots in their season-opening game on Sunday. Philadelphia placed Dean on injured reserve on Tuesday, and he will be required under NFL rules to miss at least the next four games.

Evans had been an unrestricted free agent since March 15.

A 2018 first-round draft pick off Alabama’s 2017 CFP national championship team, Evans played four seasons with the Tennessee Titans before signing with the Falcons last year.

In 76 NFL regular-season games, with 67 starts, Evans has recorded 476 tackles, five sacks, 21 tackles for loss, 16 quarterback his, two interceptions, 12 passes defended, two forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries. On Nov. 10, 2019, in the Titans’ 35-32 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, Evans returned one of the fumble recoveries 53 yards for his only NFL touchdown.

Evans becomes the seventh former Alabama player on the Eagles’ roster. Guard Landon Dickerson, quarterback Jalen Hurts, cornerbacks Josh Jobe and Eli Ricks, wide receiver DeVonta Smith and offensive lineman Tyler Steen are members of Philadelphia’s active roster.

Each NFL team is allowed to elevate two of its practice-squad players to active status for each game.

The Alabama Sports Writers Association’s Class 6A Lineman of the Year at Auburn High School in 2013, Evans isn’t the only former Alabama high school alumnus who made more than 100 tackles in the NFL last season who is on the Eagles’ roster.

In his sixth NFL season, linebacker Nicholas Morrow of Huntsville High School made 116 tackles for the Chicago Bears in 2022 and signed with Philadelphia in March.

The Eagles released Morrow when they reduced their preseason roster to the 53-player regular-season limit, then re-signed him for their practice squad.

On Tuesday, Philadelphia moved Morrow from the practice squad to the active roster.

“We’re really confident in him,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said about Morrow on Monday when discussing Dean’s injury. “That’s why he’s on our 69-man roster. We believe in him. We believe in the things that he can do. We believe in his style of play, his physicality, being able to line up the defense. A lot of confidence in Nick, and if he has to go in that role, I’m excited to watch him roll for his opportunity.”

The Eagles kick off Week 2 of the NFL’s 2023 season against the Minnesota Vikings at 7:15 p.m. CDT Thursday at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Prime Video will televise the game.

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