JaQuan Hardy’s quest to become a relevant NFC East running back may not be over just yet. Reports have the former Cowboys RB meeting with the Eagles today and that there is mutual interest in Hardy joining Philadelphia for their 2022 training camp.
Hardy was released about two weeks ago to make room for Dallas’ signing of LB Malik Jefferson. An undrafted free agent last year, JaQuan became a cult favorite as one of the featured players in the Cowboys’ run on the last season of HBO’s Hard Knocks series.
#Eagles are signing RB JaQuan Hardy, per @christomasson
Eagles were very light at RB heading into camp this week. Only had 5 on the roster. Hardy is now easily the biggest RB (225 pounds) on the roster
Long shot to make team but helps with depth during camp & could surprise
— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) July 25, 2022
https://twitter.com/MattLombardoNFL/status/1551595225323380737
Though he spent most of 2021 on Dallas’ practice squad, Hardy did get called up for the regular-season finale against the Eagles. He had three carries for 26 yards in the game, one of which was a 22-yard touchdown.
Even if he’d made it to camp, Hardy didn’t have much hope of making the Cowboys’ roster in 2022. Dallas is likely to use their third RB spot on either special team stud Rico Dowdle or fullback Ryan Nall.
We certainly wish JaQuan Hardy well as he continues his NFL adventure. Unfortunately, he may get some boos the next time we see him.
If it happens, always hate it when one of our players is picked up by a HATED division rival. Hardy did show some promise in some preseason games.
True, but as a percentage, how often does it actually end up working against us? The one that always comes to mind is the Eagles snagging Demarco Murray for a ton of cash, only to dump him a year later. Stephen Bowen and Jason Hatcher to Washington was actually better for us. Scandrick washed out quickly in Washington and Philly. Martellus Bennett scored 1 TD against us with the Giants, and then was allowed to leave at the end of the year. Tashard Choice did nothing in Washington. More recently, Jaylon Smith didn’t exactly have a good game against us with the Giants after they took him off waivers from the Packers.
Chris Canty to the Giants was the only one I remember really regretting.