Eagles make Atogwe signing official

It took an extra day, but the Eagles and free-agent safety O.J. Atogwe agreed on a one-year contract Wednesday.

There were two reports Tuesday that Atogwe had signed with the Eagles - one in which the former Redskin confirmed the move in a text message, according to ESPN Radio 980 in Washington - but two NFL sources said Tuesday that a deal had not been finalized.

All signs, of course, pointed to something getting done. There wasn't much league-wide interest in Atogwe, and the Eagles needed to add veteran depth at safety.

Atogwe, 30, won't enter training camp as one of the starters. Nate Allen and Kurt Coleman will man those spots. But Atogwe will be there in case one falters. The Eagles' safeties struggled last season, so it's not a given that Allen and Coleman - both of whom lost their starting spots at points last year - have a lock on the jobs.

"O.J. will bring us veteran, quality depth at the safety position," Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said in a statement. "We feel good about the young safeties we have on our roster, but our goal is to have the most competition possible at all of our positions as we head into training camp."

The addition of Atogwe could bring into doubt Jaiquawn Jarrett's spot on the team. The second-year player is the third safety at this point, but the Eagles would have liked to see the 2011 second-round draft pick push Coleman, a 2010 seventh-rounder, during the spring. He did not.

The Eagles typically carry four safeties. If Colt Anderson, a special-teams ace, returns by the start of the season from a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered in December, Jarrett's job could be in jeopardy.

The 5-foot-11, 205-pound Atogwe started seven games and played in 13 for the Redskins last season. After signing a five-year contract in March 2011, he battled hamstring and toe injuries. He was released this March.

In six prior seasons with the Rams, however, he was a playmaking safety, recording 22 interceptions and forcing 16 fumbles. He intercepted three passes last season and is considered more of a cover safety than a big-hitting, run-stopping one.

Atogwe was not available for comment, but will speak with reporters on a conference call Thursday. To make room for Atogwe on the 90-man roster, the Eagles released long snapper Matt Camilli.

The Eagles named Greg Gabriel, who was the Bears' director of college scouting from 2001 to 2010, a senior college scout, and they named Roger Pollard a regional scout. . . . Eagles single-game tickets will go on sale for eight regular-season and two preseason home games at 10 a.m. Thursday. Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.philadelphiaeagles.com or Ticketmaster.com or calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000.