PHILADELPHIA — Josh McCown said it was “strange” to announce his retirement two months.
So two months later, he’s coming back.
The Philadelphia Eagles signed the 40-year-old, former Jets quarterback to a one-year deal on Saturday, according to multiple reports. McCown announced his retirement from the NFL in July following two seasons with the Gang Green, and was set to join ESPN as an NFL studio analyst.
But those plans were put on hold when the desperate Eagles came calling.
McCown provides insurance behind Carson Wentz, who has finished the past two seasons on the sideline because of injuries. The Eagles already lost two quarterbacks in the first two preseason games. Nate Sudfeld broke his left wrist and is expected to return in September, while Cody Kessler left Thursday night’s game with a head injury.
Rookie Clayton Thorson was the only healthy quarterback on the roster behind Wentz before McCown ended his brief retirement.
McCown was 23-53 as a starter, including 5-11 with the Jets over the past two seasons. He’s completed 60.2 percent of his passes, has thrown 98 touchdowns, 82 interceptions and has a 79.7 passer rating. He spent most of last season mentoring then-rookie signal-caller Sam Darnold.
Nick Foles backed up Wentz the last two years and led the Eagles to four playoff wins, including the franchise’s first Super Bowl title following the 2017 season, but the 2018 Super Bowl MVP left for Jacksonville in free agency.
McCown was a third-round draft pick by Arizona in 2002 out of Sam Houston State. He started 13 games in a season twice, for the Cardinals in 2004 and the Jets in 2017. McCown’s best season came in 2013 with Chicago. He was 3-2 as a starter and completed 66.5 percent of his passes for 1,829 yards, 13 TDs and only one pick with a passer rating of 109.
— With AP