Britain Covey’s Return to Form Gives Eagles’ Special Teams a Much-Needed Spark
Watching Britain Covey field punts and kickoffs Monday night against the Chargers, one thing became clear: the Eagles may have finally found the return game spark they’ve been searching for all season. And it was sitting on their practice squad the whole time.
Philadelphia’s return unit has been a revolving door in 2025. The Eagles started the year with Jahan Dotson handling punts-solid, but with his offensive workload, it wasn’t a long-term solution.
Xavier Gipson got a shot next, but that experiment fizzled fast, ending with his release. On kickoffs, it was a similar carousel: John Metchie opened the year as the primary returner, followed by Tank Bigsby, then Will Shipley-who flashed some promise-before Gipson and even A.J.
Dillon took turns.
All the while, Covey waited patiently.
“Hey, it's never fun,” Covey said after the game. “You see things on film that make you wish you could be out there.
It took a few more games than I was hoping, but nothing surprises you anymore in the league. And I understood it would come at some point.”
Covey knows the highs and lows of NFL life all too well. After emerging as one of the league’s top punt returners in 2023, he missed most of 2024 with neck and shoulder injuries.
The Eagles didn’t tender him after the season, leading him to sign with the Rams. But after being cut at the end of training camp, Covey found his way back to Philadelphia-this time on the practice squad.
Late November brought his return to the active roster, and against the Bears, he made his 2025 debut. But Monday night was the real reminder of what Covey can do when given the chance.
In a game that didn’t offer much for highlight reels, Covey stood out. He returned three punts for 54 yards and four kickoffs for 103 yards-bringing juice, vision, and decisiveness to a unit that’s lacked all three.
And he didn’t just flash. He made history.
Covey became just the fourth player in Eagles history to average at least 18 yards on three or more punt returns and 25 yards on three or more kick returns in the same game. The last to do it? Brian Mitchell, all the way back in 2002.
That performance nudged Covey’s career punt return average from 11.3 to 11.6, moving him past Darren Sproles for the highest in franchise history (minimum 75 returns). That also places him ninth all-time in NFL history in that category-and first among undrafted players.
So why was a player with that kind of resume buried on the practice squad for most of the season?
Covey didn’t complain. Instead, he stayed involved, mentoring younger players and sharing his knowledge-something he credits to the teachings of his grandfather, the late Stephen Covey, the renowned author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
“I still tried to do my best to coach up people,” he said. “You know, I'm a big believer in the abundance mentality… I don't want to keep all my knowledge and things to myself.”
Still, watching from the sidelines is never the same as being out there.
After playing in every game but one in 2023, Covey appeared in just five of the Eagles’ next 32 games before finally getting his shot again. That time away, he says, gave him a deeper appreciation for the game.
“Such an appreciation for it and a passion for it,” he said. “You know, it's funny, when people say, ‘That's a vet move,’ I look at myself like, are you talking to me? Because I feel so much passion for it, more than I ever have, and a desire to kickstart my career.
“I feel like I'm the best player that I've been, and you just hope for those opportunities. It doesn't come to everyone, so I feel lucky.”
Right now, the Eagles might be feeling lucky too. With Covey back in the mix and looking like his old self-maybe even better-the return game finally has a playmaker who can flip field position and momentum in a heartbeat. And in a season full of inconsistency, that kind of spark can go a long way.