PHLY Philadelphia Eagles Podcast - Emergency pod: Eagles sign A.J. Epenesa to bolster Edge group

Episode Date: June 11, 2026

Surprise! Another news break for Howie Roseman as camp breaks with the team announcing the signing of former Bills second-round pick A.J. Epenesa as well as offensive lineman Michael Jordan. Scottie Pippen need not apply. Bo Wulf and E.J. Smith break it down. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Can you believe it? Hello everybody and welcome to an emergency edition of the PHLY Eagles podcast presented by Xfinity. And we're live in the Xfinity lounge where we just wrapped up a regular show and got the news. And Howie Roseman is still, there's no offseason for Howie. You think mini-camps over. You think summer has broken and everybody is going to be sitting on their hands, not in the Eagles building, not when Howie's in charge. Instead, he says, you two guys who just finished practice, you're out of here.

And we're bringing in two. Family day is over. Family day is over for Chandler Martin. Unfortunately, very sad. Chandler Martin, who they've now done this with multiple times. I'll be back. And poor Isaiah King who's running all over the place with the third team linebackers, you got to go see Mr. Roseman, my friend, because we have signed not,

just the greatest of all time. Michael Jordan. Boy, is Jalen Hertz excited about this edition? But also an interesting signing on the Edge, AJ Epinessa. Yeah. Long-time Edge for the Buffalo Bills, the former second round pick,

actually the same year that Jalen Hertz was drafted in the second round. Could have been this election for the Eagles. Also able to kick inside an interesting fit here for the Eagles. What do you make of, Let's start with Um, but da da da da da da da da His name is

Ebeneza Go ahead EJ, what do you think about him? I think it's an interesting signing. I think he represents a solid, early down rotational piece

in the address or rotation which is what we talked about him as you know, when we went into free agency. Oh yes, he was early often hot and heavy

in quackatology. I was but to say he made a run in quackatology because we felt like I think it was Fran who said that. That feels like decades ago. Yes, it does. Fran said that AJ Epinessa seemed like a good fit for Vic Fangio,

which I think is always an important benchmark to keep in mind. And I think, you know, when I look at him as a potential fit for the Eagles, you know, that early down depth, you know, guys who you feel like are going to hold up against the run. I think he does represent that. He'll turn 28 next season. I did want to mention, by the way. He was not only, you know, picked around Jalen Hertz, the pick after Jalen Hertz in the 2020 NFL draft. good note i'm talking about when the way that you said around makes me think of the yo mama joke from when we were kids i'm a kid i like the yo mama joke i like the oh mama joke and she sits around the house it's around the house to be fair to a j epinessa you know i'm saying like he's an early down

guy somebody who you feel good about against the run he had a down year in 2025 he only had two and a half sacks in a lesser role for the bills but before that he had six and a half sacks in 22, six and a half sacks in 2023, six sacks in 2024. So he has been at least a reasonably productive rotational eddresher in his career. I find it interesting just that how he's still focused on adding to this group.

Given the addition of Jonathan Grenard, you've got Nolan Smith and Jailix Hunt, you've got Arnold Epicady who you signed. Yeah. Now, Joe Tryon Shaienko, we should say, has not been at any of the spring work that we have seen. Yeah.

I don't know what else is going on there. There might be more to that story. Hopefully everything is okay with him. But you could explain why the Eagles are interested here. There are different types of players, though. Yeah, they are. Because Tryon Shaianka is more, you know, on the edge, living on the edge and can play in space a little bit, can drop. Whereas Epinessa, you're thinking, can be an edge guy on early downs and maybe even kick inside on third down.

It's a player with a profile that makes a lot of sense for this group, especially if you're wondering, you know, if Ty Robinson can really be effective. Do you need a fourth guy who can maybe rush from the inside? It's why I maybe read this as kind of bad news for Brandon Graham's chances of coming back because it's a similar type of player to Brandon Graham. Yeah, similar usage, you would imagine for both of them. But I think that the Brandon Graham decision is kind of isn't a vacuum. Yeah, it feels like if you can bring him back and the team wants to bring him back, obviously we know that he wants to be back.

You sort of, you would do it even if, even if it, even, you know, AJ Epinette's not going to get in the way of Brandon Graham, I would say. Probably not. That'd be my read on it. That's also just very simple as this is a player, the Eagles have a pretty good grade on. Yeah. Now, he was slated to sign with Browns. I think it's important to keep this in mind with him that he failed, not failed.

The Browns were reportedly uncomfortable finalizing a one-year-freyers. $5 million contract with AJ Epinessa back in March because of his physical. And so the Eagles just look at this as an opportunity to sign a player who on the open market was worth $5 million and now you're probably going to get him for a lot cheaper than that. Why not add him to the team? Right. But that is a question as we talk about like, oh, like how's you going to fit on early downs? Can they move him inside?

I think his health is going to be a question mark as he enters Philadelphia. And again, it'll be interesting to see what he looks like in training camp. All right. Let's move from Epinessa and remind you that with Xfinity, you can lock in your price for internet for five years. It's been just over five years since AJ Epinessa and J. Jalen Hertz were drafted. We thank Xfinity for sponsoring this emergency podcast.

And we talk now about, boy, could you imagine Jalen Hertz being more excited about a depth signing for the Eagles, someone who's going to help the offensive line, and more importantly, someone named Michael Jordan. It's funny because I was texting you and Sheila about Michael B. Jordan earlier today,

and now it's come full circle. Michael Jordan. Who is Michael Jordan? Michael Jordan is an offensive lineman. 66312 will be 29 years old. Actually, just 28 years old. And he is a guard by trade and has extensive starting experience.

49 career starts started nine games for the Bucks last year. It was with the Patriots the year before that. Entered the league with the Bengals, has played for the Panthers. So this is a guy who's been around the league, played in some different schemes. And I think we both agree, this is an area where we thought the Eagles did need to add some depth

in terms of the interior help, especially guys you can play guard, because right now you're looking at unproven players as backups. You've got Drew Kendall, potentially as a backup guard. They're moving Miles Hinton. there, Michael Jordan helps you out there. Yeah, I mean, he's been kind of around the team for the last few months.

I think they had him in for the rookie minicamp tryouts. It was him and Isaiah Thomas, which was fun. And yeah, I think it makes sense to have, to kind of counterbalance, like the Drew Kendall's and the Miles Hinton's of the world with a player like this, where it kind of reminds me, it's not a good example, but the Matt Hennessey signing a few years ago, where it's like you kind of want to offset a young player that you're developing at that spot with someone with experience. Obviously, Hennessy didn't work out, but I do think that that thought process makes a lot of sense.

Just looking at the teams that he has played for, it's not the most Shanahaney system. No. Right? I mean, Tampa. Tampa last year. Patriots. I guess Tampa was Grazard. Yeah.

Yeah. So you've got some. A little bit. Some cohab with that. Maybe Grisard gave him a vote of confidence. You've got to get MJ in the building. Is there a Pippin in the NFL, the Eagles can sign? Let's see.

There's not currently Jarrell Pippins played from 2004 to 2005 was born in Philadelphia Jarrell Pippins So maybe he'd come out of retirement For the Eagles Is there a coo coach in the NFL

It's just gonna turn into us If we'd stay here long enough We'll just be playing 80s to and L. There's a Zach Kerr of course Remember the defensive tackle from Delaware A lot of a Kerr mentions on the show today Is there a Wettington? We could get a

Rodman A Rodman We're going to Ron Woodson. Trinity Rodman. She might be good at football. Yeah, but I mean, two directly, actually. Part of the Rodman family. Yeah, okay, so it has to be.

I didn't know the rules of this made up game. It's got to be a Bobo version. Bobo Rodman. We need a Bobo Rodman. It's a good baby name. Is there a Harper? How about a Ron Harper? I'm sure there's Harper's in the NFL.

Thomas Harper. Safety for the Detroit Lions. You can make that happen. There's a rolling thing, Harper. Truly, it is cruel for Howard to do this to these two guys who just finished the final. No, I don't think it's cruel. I mean, how much more cruel would it have been to do it yesterday? What about tomorrow?

It's like right at the end of minicamp. It's just very funny. I think it's fine. Chandler Martin has now been signed and waived or released twice by the Eagles. He was originally signed. He's a linebacker at the end of March. and then was released in the beginning of June and then re-signed three days later

and then now released six days later. An early leader in the Eli-Ricks transaction with a lot. I bet say something tells me his time's not over with the Eagles. Something tells me. Yeah, they put stuff on tape. The 92nd man.

Eagles, you know, they need the linebackers to get through camp and now they don't. It's actually what that probably means is they will sign a different veteran linebacker before camp starts. Or maybe you factor in Jehad Campbell getting snaps and... Good point.

Yeah. That's how they got Chance Campbell was because Jehad Campbell wasn't going to play in the third preseason game. That's right. They needed that a linebacker and now look how that benefited them. All right. Always looking. Just I guess.

All the information you needed about the Eagles adding AJ at Panessa and Michael Jordan what says championship more than adding Michael Jordan in June. Come on. It's funny, the listeners might enjoy this at the end of the emergency pod. Not that we've unpacked the signings, I ordered sushi to the office

because I was thinking like, I'll sit here, get my work done, grab the sushi, go on my way home. And I was a little worried about the sushi, you know, like, is it going to be sitting outside? But the delivery is late? Perfect timing. Like, this synced up so well. I think the Eagles should offer in the next round of raising money in an auction in for EAF? Mm-hmm.

An experience. Sushi with Gucci. I'm out. You have to go to a nice, fancy omacasse with Kapanaga chicken. Sushi with Gucci. I'm in for $5,000. I'm sure you are.

I'm sure you would be. All right, that'll do it for this emergency podcast presented by Xfinity. AJ Eponessa. A new AJ in town. And Michael Jordan are here. Oh, you got to do. We've got to cut this.

We've got to cut a clip here. All right. We're going to cut a clip live. You ready for this? Let's make it happen. Three, two. It's June 10th, but Howie Roseman's not done adding to the team. He signs Michael Jordan, a guard with starting experience to buttress the Eagles

offensive line depth. And A.J. Epinessa, a former second round pick of the Buffalo Bills, had been slated to join the Cleveland Browns on a one-year five million. deal before injuries made the Browns back out. Howie swooping in and adding to a group that includes Jonathan Grenard, Jalix Hunt, Nolan Smith, and Arnold Ebba Katie. Howie Roseman never off the job, always working for your Philadelphia Eagles. Best host on the city.

I was just like the class clown trying not to laugh. Butchis. It was real delivery on buttons. And here's why that's bad news for Jaylor. Michael Jordan in the building. Only room for one MJ in that building. He's like, Jalen like silos up and starts asking him questions.

Well, hey, what was it like when? It's really running. Sponge up that information. All right, that'll do it. Thanks for watching and listening, everybody. Thank you to Lindsay for making it happen behind the scenes. A quick turn emergency pod on a June 10th Wednesday for all of us here. We thank you for watching.

We'll be back with our regularly scheduled 2 o'clock show on Thursday for all of us. We'll see you tomorrow. And as always, we love you.