The 2020 Philadelphia Eagles season has not started as we all thought, but one bright spot is the emergence of WR Travis Fulgham (23-357-3) in his 4 games played.
Who Is Travis Fulgham?
Fulgham played his college football at Old Dominion University (Conference USA) and compiled 128 receptions 2044 yards and 18 TDs in 4 seasons. Fulgham played behind another NFL Wideout Zach Pascal (IND) as a sophomore. He did not break out until his senior season in 2018 (63-1083-17.2-9) and come the NFL Draft he was selected with the 184th pick in the 6th round by the Detroit Lions. Fulgham played in 3 games as a rookie not registering any stats, now the Lions had a lot of established unit (Golladay, M. Jones Jr, Amendola, Lacy and would draft Cephus in 2020) and no Stafford as he was out for the year. What you have is a young wide receiver who flashed preseason for Detriot in 2019 but with the pandemic and no OTAs, Mini Camps or Preseason games he was waived by Detroit and subsequently claimed by Green Bay. Now this is where the Eagles come into play, 9 days after arriving in Green Bay Fulgham was waived yet again and snagged by Philadelphia a day later. Philadelphia would cut Fulgham at the final cuts but add him to the practice squad until 10/3 for SNF against the 49ers and we know how the story from there.
Why this is no Fluke!
There has been instances in history where a player has not succeeded in his first or second stop and I have found 8 examples of where first or second stint did not work out then the emergence happened.
Jimmy Smith- (92-93 DAL, 94 PHI, 95-05 JAX)
Jimmy Smith was drafted in the 2nd round by the Dallas Cowboys in 1992 and registered no stats, he would be waived in 1994 and signed by Philadelphia and subsequently cut at the end of preseason. Smith would get a tryout with expansion Jacksonville in 1995 and wouldn’t look back after a stellar 1996 season (83-1244-7) and would have 9 1000 yard seasons. Smith finished career with 862 rec, 12,287 yds, and 67 TD.
Harold Jackson- (68 LAR, 69-72 PHI, 73-77 LAR, 78-81 NE, 82 MIN, 83 SEA)
Harold Jackson a draft selection for the Rams in 1968 would only play 2 games, he would go to Philadelphia in 1969 and flourish (65-1116-9). Jackson would have 3 1000 yard seasons and finish his career with 579 rec, 10,372 yards and 76 TD.
Wes Welker- 04 SD, 04-06 MIA, 07-12 NE, 13-14 DEN, 15 STL)
Wes Welker an undersized wideout who went undrafted to San Diego, but he would then catch on with Miami as a situational wideout and special teamer, he would end up in New England and would flourish accumulating 5 100+ catch years and 5 1000 yard seasons. Welker would finish with 903 rec, 9924 yards and 50 TD.
Don Maynard- (58 NYG, 59 CFL, 60-72 NYJ, 73 STL)
Maynard was a 9th round selection of the New York Giants in 1958 and only totaled 5 catches for 84 yards before being cut and signing with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League. He would be the 1st player to sign with the New York Titans (later named Jets) in 1960 because then Head Coach Sammy Baugh coached against him in college. Maynard would break out for the Titans/Jets, surpassing 1000 yards in 5 seasons and totaling 633 rec, 11,834 yards and 88 TD in his HOF Career.
Joe Horn- (95 CFL, 96-99 KC, 00-06 NO, 07 ATL)
Horn would not play football for 2 years after leaving college and in 1995 he would bounce around a couple teams in the CFL but got attention of NFL scouts. The Chiefs would draft Horn in the 5th rd in 1996 but in 4 seasons he would only amass 53 rec for 879 yards and 7 TD. In 2000 his career would take off exploding for 94 catches for 1340 yards and 8 TD, Horn would have 4 1000 yd years with New Orleans. He finished his career with 603 rec, 8744 yards and 58 TD.
Keenan McCardell- (91, 07 WSH, 92-95 CLE, 96-01 JAX, 02-03 TB, 04-06 SD)
Keenan McCardell was a late round pick by Washington in 1991 but was placed on IR and cut after the season. In 1992 he would sign with the Browns and play 4 seasons in Cleveland putting up 80-1133-8 during his career for the Browns. 1996 is where his career would take off, signing with the Jaguars and pairing him with Jimmy Smith (scroll up if you forget who this guy is). McCardell would put up 85 catches 1129 yards and 3 TD in his first season, he would
Drew Hill- (79-84 LAR, 85-91 HOU, 92-93 ATL)
A late round selection in 1979 by the Rams Drew Hill would not be able to make an impact, only catching 60 passes for 1347 yards and 10 TD in 6 seasons before joining the high flying Oilers. Hill would emerge in Houston (64-1169-9 in first year with Houston) with 5 1000 yard seasons and 634 rec, 9831 yards and 60 TD in his career.
Danny Amendola- (08 DAL, 08-09 PHI, 09-12 STL, 13-17 NE, 18 MIA, 19-pres. DET)
An Undrafted FA signed by Dallas in 2008 spent year on Practice Squad, then would be signed by the Eagles and on their Practice Squad in 2009. Amendola would be signed off Eagles’ Practice Squad by the Rams and would become a reliable slot receive. In 2010 would compile 85-689-3 and has over 550 catches 5400 yards and 21 TD in his career that is still in progress with Detroit.
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