Devon Allen burns secondary for first NFL touchdown in Philadelphia Eagles preseason win
After seeing just six snaps in his debut with the Philadelphia Eagles last week, Devon Allen saw his first target of the preseason Sunday against the Cleveland Browns.
First target. First catch. First NFL touchdown. The former Oregon standout made the most of his opportunities, absolutely blowing by the Browns’ secondary for a 55-yard touchdown reception with just under four minutes to go in the third quarter. It proved to be the game-winner, as Philadelphia went on to win 21-20.
Devon Allen, THE FASTEST MAN IN THE WORLD in 110 Hurdles this year, goes blazing down the football field FOR A TOUCHDOWN pic.twitter.com/75hCEM298B
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) August 21, 2022
Track speed burns different on the football field.
The Eagles went on to win the game 21-20
The 27-year-old former Oregon Duck wideout signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as a free agent in April shortly after taking part in Oregon’s football Pro Day. He recorded a 4.35 40-yard dash time that day, catching headlines and telling reporters after the event that he was serious about a return to football.
Allen was a 4-star recruit coming out of high school. As a redshirt freshman in 2014, he had 41 catches for 684 yards and seven touchdowns, but a pair of knee injuries slowed his football career.
On the track, he twice won the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the 110M hurdles. He won the 110M hurdles at the 2016 Olympic Trials and finished fifth in that year’s Olympic Games. He competed again at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, finishing four-tenths of a second off the bronze medal.
At the track world championships in Eugene last July, Allen might have claimed another medal if not for a controversial disqualification in the final of the 110m hurdles. Rather than lamenting too long over the decision, Allen turned his attention back to football.
He’s looking to make the Eagles’ 53-man roster for the new season. More plays like the one on Sunday will certainly help.