The Eagles have announced the signing of wide receiver Markus Wheaton, a wide receiver preparing for his sixth NFL season. Here’s everything you need to know about the former Chicago speedster.
The move likely comes as the team’s final offseason signing to fill out the roster…at least for now. The Eagles recently signed 16 undrafted free agents and had one vacant spot on the roster, which has now been filled by Wheaton.
Everything you need to know about 16 undrafted free agents who have signed with the Eagles
The 5’11, 189 lbs, wide receiver is coming off of two very difficult, injury plagued seasons. After playing 3 games in his final season with the Steelers, Wheaton signed a two-year, $11 million deal that included $6 million guaranteed, with the Chicago Bears. But after an emergency appendectomy, a broken finger in training camp and a groin injury in the regular season, Wheaton caught just 3 of 17 targets for 51 yards in the 11 games he did play.
The Bears have one of the weakest wide receiver groups in the league and Wheaton struggled to make his mark, even when healthy. In fact, between weeks 10 and 17, he caught just two passes, both of which were in the same game.
The former Oregon State wideout does have a strong background however, after posting a 749 yard season in 2015, averaging 17 yards per reception. He also had a whopping 97 catches between 2014-15. The Eagles signed Mike Wallace to be their deep-threat replacement for Torrey Smith and Wheaton will likely be competing with someone such as Shelton Gibson during Training Camp in order to fill out one of the last depth spots on the roster.
Wheaton is very much a low-risk, high-reward signing who does have the ability to stretch the field but has limited by circumstance and injuries.
Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
