An unexpected former New Orleans Saints quarterback is back in the news. Ian Book signed with the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad after Jalen Hurts (concussion) and Kenny Pickett (ribs) were nicked up by injuries, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. Hurts wasn’t able to practice to start the week while Pickett was limited.
This isn’t Book’s first stop in Philly. The Eagles claimed him off waivers when the Saints let him go back in 2022, and he spent that season and the next summer’s training camp with them. He has since held backup roles with the New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs before returning to Philadelphia.
Book, 26, was one of the last players drafted by Sean Payton back in 2021 — selected at No. 133 overall in the fourth round out of Notre Dame. But he was let go quickly once Dennis Allen was promoted to head coach, having performed poorly in a surprise start his rookie year when injuries and COVID-19 absences wracked the team. The Saints traded up to pick Jake Haener at No. 127 a few years later, and Spencer Rattler fell to them at No. 150 in this year’s NFL draft.