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Eagles sign running back Matt Jones to two-year contract

Wide receiver Dom Williams was waived in a corresponding move.

Redskins’ Matt Jones picks up a 1st down as Eagles’ defenders give chase late in the 4th quarter. Philadelphia Eagles lose 27-20 to the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field in Landover, MD on October 16, 2016. DAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
Redskins’ Matt Jones picks up a 1st down as Eagles’ defenders give chase late in the 4th quarter. Philadelphia Eagles lose 27-20 to the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field in Landover, MD on October 16, 2016. DAVID MAIALETTI / Staff PhotographerRead moreDAVID MAIALETTI

The Eagles signed former Washington Redskins and Indianapolis Colts running back Matt Jones to a two-year contract on Wednesday, taking a chance on a rusher with starting experience who can add size to the Eagles backfield while competing for a roster spot. Wide receiver Dom Williams was waived in a corresponding move.

Jones, 25, was a 2015 third-round pick out of Florida. He spent last season with the Colts, playing five games while shuffling between their practice squad and active roster. He opened the 2016 season as Washington's starting running back, averaging 4.6 yards per carry and rushing for 460 yards in seven games before injuring his knee and losing his starting job. As a rookie in 2015, Jones ran for 490 yards and averaged 3.4 yards per carry, and also caught 19 passes for 304 yards. His problem was fumbling; Jones fumbled eight times during his first two seasons, losing six of them.

At 6-foot-2 and 239 pounds, Jones becomes the biggest running back on the Eagles. He will join a crowded field of running backs. Jay Ajayi, Darren Sproles, and Corey Clement are  the top three. Wendell Smallwood and Donnel Pumphrey are also trying to secure jobs. The Eagles are signing Josh Adams, a former Notre Dame and Central Bucks South standout, as an undrafted rookie, too.

Eagles sign draft picks

The Eagles agreed to four-year contracts with all five draft picks before the rookie minicamp opens  Friday.

Tight end Dallas Goedert, cornerback Avonte Maddox, defensive end Josh Sweat, offensive lineman Matt Pryor, and offensive lineman Jordan Mailata will all sign before camp begins. The four-year deals are the standard contract lengths for draft picks.

They will be joined by a group of undrafted rookies who sign three-year contracts or participate on a tryout basis this weekend, when the Eagles hold the rookie minicamp. The Eagles will likely announce the full rookie class on Thursday. The first practice is at noon Friday.