Alex Ellis added to 53-man Eagles roster, Jordan Mailata ‘week-to-week’ with back injury

The Eagles added tight end Alex Ellis to the 53-man roster Friday ahead of their season opener against Washington.

The Delmar, Del., native capitalized on an increased role once injuries to Dallas Goedert (calf) and Richard Rodgers (foot) resulted in extra reps and playing time during the preseason.

He caught a touchdown pass against the Baltimore Ravens and proved capable on special teams, which might come in handy.

Ellis, an undrafted free agent out of Tennessee who signed with the Titans in 2016, has spent time on the Jaguars and Saints practice squads. He’s been on the 53-man rosters of the Chiefs and Jaguars.

He was signed by the Eagles in the middle of training camp and achieved the tall task of making it to the active roster as a mid-camp addition.

“He’s been getting more opportunities, maybe than he otherwise would have because of the numbers there and the injury situation,” offensive coordinator Mike Groh said. “He’s gotten ample opportunity to do some things both in practice and in games. I think he’s representing himself very well.”

Jordan Mailata is making progress from a back injury sustained during preseason practices.

The Eagles’ offensive tackle from Australia returned to practice in a limited fashion on Friday, stretching with the team but not participating in anything else.

“Just trusting what the trainers say. Right now, it’s a week-to-week basis,” Mailata said. “I was out there running today. ... It was good to actually do something in the presence of the boys.”

Mailata said the medical staff wants to take “a steady approach” and make sure he is fully healed.​ The 2018 seventh-round pick finished last season on injured reserve after suffering a stress fracture in his back, but Mailata said this injury is “totally different."

Mailata’s second preseason was going well before going down with what Eagles coach Doug Pederson characterized as a “lower-back injury” during the week leading into the preseason finale against the New York Jets on Aug. 29.

“Low back, with him, [we’re] just resting him,” Pederson said on Aug. 27. “We’re going to get some more evaluation today and have an answer, but it should be fine. We just have to see after we get more results.”

Mailata rebounded from a rocky start to camp and played well when he started the first three games at right tackle in place of Lane Johnson, who was out with an injury.

He filled in for Johnson on the first team during preseason practices, too, in addition to his second-team reps. His 191 preseason snaps were the most of any Eagle through the first three games.