Meet the Eagles’ newest member of a dying breed

Meet the Eagles’ newest member of a dying breed originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

There aren’t many fullbacks left in the NFL.

Over the last couple of decades, as the passing game has taken over, the number of fullbacks in the wild has dwindled as the need for lead blockers has dropped. They’re now on the NFL’s endangered list.

“Yeah, the last of the dying breed,” Khari Blasingame said. “We all watch each other and are excited for each other when we make plays.”

Blasingame, whom the Eagles signed to their practice squad on Tuesday, feels a sense of pride about being a fullback in 2024. And because there are so few of them left in the league, there’s definitely a fullback community in the NFL.

Blasingame, 28, began his NFL career with the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2019 and in Minnesota, he got to know fullback C.J. Ham; the two are still in contact. He also worked out with Dolphins’ fullback Alec Ingold during the pre-draft process and is proud to see the role Ingold has carved out in Miami. He also talks to Buffalo’s Reggie Gilliam and former Falcons’ fullback Keith Smith.

“All of them are really cool,” Blasingame said, “and we all tap in and communicate with each other.”

During his rookie season in 2019, Blasingame was signed to the Titans’ active roster and ended up spending the better part of three years back in Tennessee, where he went to college at Vanderbilt. After that, Blasingame joined the Bears in 2022 and was there until earlier this season when he got released. In all, Blasingame has played in 66 NFL games with 21 starts.

But when he found himself out of work this fall, he didn’t stress about it. Instead, he crammed in as much time with his family as he could at his home outside Atlanta and patiently waited for a call.

That call came from the Eagles this past weekend.

Linebacker Ben VanSumeren had been filling in at fullback this season for the Eagles. He had played just 22 offensive snaps but that…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/meet-eagles-newest-member-dying-143207768.html

Author : NBC Sports Philadelphia

Publish date : 2024-12-05 14:32:00

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