With tight end Trey Burton out with a calf injury and reserve offensive lineman Dillon Gordon inactive, it was a bit of mystery as to who the Eagles would use at fullback if and when the situation called for it. Finally, late in the fourth quarter of their 29-10 win over the Browns, defensive tackle Beau Allen entered the game on offense.
The 6-foot-3, 327-pound defensive lineman played exactly four snaps at fullback, helping to clear a path for Ryan Mathews' one-yard touchdown run to close out the contest. It wasn't exactly a ton of work, although it was still quite a thrill for the third-year veteran.
"That was a blast," Allen said. "That was a lot of fun and I think it was a good way to close out the game with a touchdown on the goal line."
Allen was so excited, he wasn't even sure whether the block he threw was effective or assisted Mathews in any way.
"We have to see it on film. It was kind of a blur to be honest."
Eagles coach Doug Pederson likes using a fullback in certain situations, although Allen is probably a bit more athletically limited than he prefers. Initially, it looked like tight end Chris Pantale would make the roster for precisely this kind of work, but when he didn't, Burton seemed to be the perfect type of versatile weapon to take on the role. Gordon also worked in that spot during training camp and the preseason.
With Burton out, and Gordon inactive due to his lack of special teams contribution, Pederson had to improvise a bit.
NFL
"(Coach Pederson) approached me about it a couple weeks ago," Allen said. "I kind of thought he was joking at first when he asked me if I had ever played fullback before, and I told him I hadn't. Some heavy situations in college and then in high school.
"They kind of ran me through a workout and determined that I guess I could play fullback, then took a couple reps at it since then and then lo and behold they threw me in there in the game."
Allen also rotated in at defensive tackle throughout the game. The 2014 seventh-round draft pick assisted on one tackle against the Browns.
But by far his biggest spot in the game, and the one he wanted to talk about most, was getting a shot on offense. With Burton likely able to return soon, who knows when Allen will line up at fullback again. He certainly sounded up for it though.
"Honestly, I think I can on record and saying every fat man that plays D-line or O-line or whatever wants to line up back there and play fullback," Allen said. "I'm joking around a lot, but it's something I take seriously. It is a lot of fun and hopefully I can help the team that way."
Who knows, maybe Pederson will continue to use Allen down at the goal line. He isn't necessarily going to leak out of the backfield and catch a pass, but if the Eagles ever need just one yard, one would think one of the largest men on the team could help pave the way.