Life for Britain Covey holds a lot of uncertainties right now.
Covey appeared on this week’s episode of “From the Logo with Jimmer Fredette.” He took the interview in his hotel room, which has become like a second home.
“I’m in a hotel room right now that I spent a good portion of the last three, four years of my life in,” he said.
Earlier this offseason, it looked like Covey’s chapter with the Philadelphia Eagles had concluded. In May, he signed with the Los Angeles Rams.
“First three years in Philly — wonderful, right? Two Super Bowl appearances in three years. I got so fortunate to be in this organization, and anyways, I had an injury last year that kind of messed with some contractual things in Philadelphia. So, I chose to go to L.A. this last year," he said.
Up until the last minute, Covey thought he’d make the Rams’ final 53-man roster. But he was cut.
Covey then returned to Philadelphia and joined the Eagles’ practice squad, as the Deseret News reported.
“This is my third time being cut in the league. I was cut by the Eagles twice before and put on practice squad and elevated to the active roster. So it’s not new, but it doesn’t make it any easier. It’s like being fired again,” he said.
Following his brief stint in Los Angeles, Covey knew if he had the choice, he would return to the Eagles, “where I feel like they really know who I am as a player,” he said.
“If I had the choice between the practice squads and the different teams around the league, too, I was going to go back to Philadelphia, where I feel like they really know who I am as a player. Just love the guys over here,” he said.
Covey called Eagles receivers AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith “some of my best friends.”
“But it’s been tough because my family are looking for a place now, and you’re paying a double mortgage at all times because you have a place in Utah just in case I get cut again. So you just accept it and know it’s not forever and you try and make the most of it,” he said.
Despite the volatility, Covey considers himself blessed to have received the NFL opportunities he’s had.
“I feel very blessed,” he said. “Not everybody gets opportunities. People don’t make it in the NFL and it’s always a shame to me when someone doesn’t and I feel like the conversation around them is ‘He didn’t pan out in the NFL,’ and I always say, ‘If you only knew it wasn’t that simple.’ I’ve seen guys outperform draft picks five to one in practice, but who are you going to keep on the team? You have to keep the draft pick.”
Even though he’s back with the Eagles, the uncertainty hasn’t disappeared as a member of the practice squad.
“At any moment, I could be claimed to a team’s active roster, and I don’t have any say in it. I loved playing for (Rams) coach (Sean) McVay in the spring, and he’s talked to me, you know if something happens over there, if I get claimed, I gotta move back across the country,” Covey said.
Will Britain Covey be elevated to the Eagles active roster?
The Eagles have yet to elevate Covey to the active roster through the first two weeks of the season.
While on the practice squad, he’s been asked by the coaching staff to assist the Eagles’ current punt returner, Jahan Dotson. Though it may sound awkward, “that’s my job. I’m going to help out,” Covey said.
But Covey knows the Eagles have the “utmost confidence in me,” he said.
“They’ve brought me in and met with me, and they’re like, ‘Look, at some point in the season ... we’re going to need you as a returner, as a receiver.’ In the games that DeVonta was hurt last year, I started two games at receiver and did well. So it’s nice, like I said, to be back where they know me,” he said.
If that elevation doesn’t come this season, Covey will “do right by the team.”
“I’m going to get Jahan ready for every punter like you’ve never seen. I’m going to give him the full scouting report, just do right by the team, do right by everybody, and so we’ll see what happens,” he said.
Covey’s Eagles are 2-0 so far this season and will host the Rams on Sunday.