Eagles sign veteran defensive end among other post-minicamp moves

The Eagles on Wednesday signed veteran defensive end A.J. Epenesa among other moves.

By Dave Zangaro • Published June 10, 2026

The Eagles on Wednesday signed veteran A.J. Epenesa to bolster their edge rusher depth going into training camp next month.

Epenesa, 27, was drafted in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Iowa. He was selected at pick No. 54, just one spot after the Eagles selected Jalen Hurts.

In addition to adding Epenesa, the Eagles also signed veteran guard Michael Jordan, who was with the Eagles earlier this offseason on a tryout. To make those two roster spots, the Eagles waived LB Chandler Martin and LB Isiah King.

The Eagles finished their two-day mandatory minicamp on Wednesday, so we won’t get to see Epenesa (6-6, 280) with the team until training camp in late July at the earliest. The team is listing him as a defensive end.

Earlier this offseason, Epenesa had reportedly agreed to terms of a one-year deal with the Browns worth up to $5 million but the Browns backed out after his physical, per ESPN.

In his six NFL seasons (all with the Bills), Epenesa has been a solid rotational edge rusher. He has played in 91 games with 19 starts and has 24 total sacks and 135 combined tackles to go along with 4 interceptions, 5 forced fumbles and 21 pass breakups. 

From 2022-2024, Epenesa had 6 1/2, 6 1/2 and 6 sacks. He had 2 1/2 sacks in 16 games with the Bills last year while playing 47% of their defensive snaps.

Epenesa will join an edge rusher room that already includes Jonathan Greenard, Nolan Smith, Jalyx Hunt, Arnold Ebiketie, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, Keyshawn James-Newby, Joshua Weru and Jose Ramirez. Tryon-Shoyinka was absent from the mandatory camp this week.

https://www.nbcsportsphiladelphia.com/nfl/philadelphia-eagles/eagles-sign-veteran-aj-epenesa-bills-browns-defensive-end/736747/

We needed a run stuffer at DE for short yardage. This guy is big

Cleveland's docs failed him for their physical which raises questions. if he's healthy, he's an improvement over JTS who retired, and he gives them a nice multi-faceted rotation with Greenard, Hunt, Smith, and Ebikitie.