Fun facts about the new Eagles pass rusher, Ogbo Okoronkwo
We've signed DE Ogbonnia Okoronkwo and DT Jacob Sykes and waived DE KJ Henry and RB Lew Nichols. pic.twitter.com/DKayPWTejq
Summertime continues, but for the Philadelphia Eagles, it's time to go to work again. Rookies reported to training camp early. Veterans followed. Andrew Mukuba finally signed his rookie deal.
A day before the first practice, the roster shuffle began. Two players were added, and two others exited the stage. Defensive end K.J. Henry and running back Lew Nichols were waived. To fill the vacated roster spaces, Philadelphia signed defensive tackle Jacob Sykes and defensive end Ogbonnia Okoronkwo.
Sykes played at Harvard and UCLA and is a former undrafted free agent claimed by the Seattle Seahawks in 2023. He played the 2024 UFL season with the San Antonio Brahmas.
Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, we know a little better. He is a former fifth-rounder who won a Super Bowl ring as part of the Los Angeles Rams roster. Since then, he has also spent time with the Houston Texans and the Cleveland Browns.
He now hopes to make the Eagles roster as part of a pass rush already featuring Nolan Smith, Jalyx Hunt, Azeez Ojulari, and Josh Uche. He's also an interesting person when he isn't wearing the shoulder pads. Here are a few fun facts about the new guy.
Okoronkwo could have been a great NFL writer.
Ogbonnia Okoronkwo is of Nigerian descent, and he is often referred to as 'Ogbo' for short. He was born in Gainesville, Florida. He was raised in Houston, Texas, and believe it or not, he originally wanted to be a writer before discovering football.
He still has a few sacks left in him, so a career in journalism can wait for a while, but once he hangs up the cleats, it's nice to know he has a job he can fall back on.
Philadelphia may potentially land another community leader.
The Philadelphia Eagles certainly aren't strangers to philanthropy. Harold Carmichael was once the 1980 NFL Man of the Year. Through the years, we've seen guys like Malcolm Jenkins, Chris Long, and Brian Dawkins heavily involved in the community.
Okoronkwo will fit right in. Fans and locals in the Cleveland area often praised him for having an approachable personality. There are even stories of him inviting a family to the field at a Browns game.
How about a hand for an imposing resume?
Although the off-field aspects are interesting, Okoronkwo's spot on the roster will only be guaranteed by one thing. The biggest question that needs to be answered is whether or not he can play football.
Forty-four tackles and five sacks for the Texans in 2022 are the career highs of a six-year career. His addition to the Eagles' roster won't guarantee him anything, but now, at least, he has a chance to do something significant and join the defending Super Bowl champions. Will he make the most of his opportunity? Only time will tell.
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