The Philadelphia Eagles are working out free agent quarterback Tim Tebow this week, as Adam Schefter at ESPN.com reports that Chip Kelly and the Eagles are bringing in the former Patriots and Broncos quarterback for a work out, with sources reporting that he could be an option for a backup position on the roster.
Tebow has been out of the league since getting released by the New York Jets apart from his stint with the New England Patriots in training camp in 2013. The Jets traded for Tebow after the team brought in Peyton Manning and while the Rams showed some interest last year when they dealt with injuries, Tebow has been off the NFL radar for the most part.
Schefter reported on Monday that the Eagles are working out Tebow, with sources confirming that he will come in as a quarterback. Some suggested in the past that Tebow should try and change positions to get back into the NFL, but the quarterback has been steadfast that he wants to remain as a QB. Tebow had some success in Denver, taking the team to the playoffs and winning a game, but he was shipped off once the team got Manning.
The Jets never quite found a way to use Tebow and he ended up appearing in just six games, passing for 39 yards and rushing for 102 in 2012. Mark Sanchez and Tebow were pushed into the middle of things in New York by the media with the way the Jets used their quarterbacks and now he could be reunited with the quarterback in Philadelphia. The Eagles just traded for Sam Bradford and they also have Sanchez and Matt Barkley on the roster.
Chip Kelly has been making some major moves this offseason with the trade of Nick Foles and LeSean McCoy and now he is looking at another wild option. While a workout doesn't mean that Tebow will sign, this is a big deal for the quarterback. Tebow has had nearly zero interest over the past year and he has been working with ESPN as an analyst for college football. Last week there were reports that Tebow could be working out at the veteran NFL combine, but he did not end up joining the participants list. If Tebow was signed, it likely would mean that Barkley is on his way out, as Sanchez was just signed to a new deal and Bradford was acquired for significant draft picks.
Tebow came into the NFL as a first round draft pick and it came after he won championships and a Heisman in college at Florida. The Eagles won 10 games last season and missed the playoffs and now Kelly is building the team in his image, shipping out players like Foles and McCoy for Byron Maxwell, Kiko Alonso and Bradford.