NEW ORLEANS — Britain Covey was listed as a full participant when the Philadelphia Eagles released their first injury report of Super Bowl week Wednesday.
What does that mean for the former University of Utah star and his potential participation in Super Bowl LIX?
The Eagles face the Kansas City Chiefs at Caesars Superdome on Sunday (4:30 p.m. MST, Fox) in the NFL’s title game.
Covey, who last played in Week 13 of the NFL’s regular season, is coming back from a neck injury that landed him on injured reserve on Dec. 28.
Philadelphia activated his practice window for Covey two weeks ago, ahead of the Eagles’ matchup with the Washington Commanders, but he remains on IR.
Covey has not been made available during Super Bowl week interviews — not a surprise considering he is not currently a part of the team’s 53-man active roster — though Wednesday’s report that he was a full participant in practice is the most positive sign for him since he went on IR for the second time this season.
If the Eagles want him to play in the Super Bowl, Covey would have to be activated to the team’s 53-man active roster by 2 p.m. MST on Saturday.
“They’re doing everything they can to get themselves ready to go,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni told pool reporter Nicki Jhabvala, speaking generally about the team’s list of players on the injury report. “I’ll never put limitations on them. We’ll see where they are as the week progresses.”
During his rookie season back in 2022, Covey, an undrafted wide receiver/punt returner out of Utah, played in the Super Bowl with Philadelphia and had a 27-yard punt return in the NFL’s championship game.
The Eagles lost that year to the Chiefs, 38-35, after Kansas City rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit.
Covey averaged 14.4 yards on 29 punt returns last season, second-highest in the league and second-highest in Eagles history, behind only DeSean Jackson’s 15.2 average in 2009. Covey was named a 2024 Pro Bowl alternate.
Covey has spent much of his third NFL season this year dealing with injury. In addition to the neck injury that has sidelined him late in the year, he also landed on IR after suffering a shoulder injury in Week 3.
All totaled, Covey has played in five games this season. He’s averaged 7.7 yards on six punt returns.
He also played on offense early in the year, recording seven catches for 34 yards.
In Covey’s absence, rookie cornerback Cooper DeJean has filled in as the Eagles’ punt returner, averaging a franchise rookie record 10.0 yards per punt during the regular season, while also starting nine games in the slot on defense.