A former Redskins quarterback is a Nick Foles injury away from playing in Sunday’s Super Bowl.
Nate Sudfeld, the Redskins’ sixth-round selection in 2016, will be the backup quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles when they take on the New England Patriots.
Sudfeld was released in September with the Redskins opting to roll with just two quarterbacks on the roster. The Eagles then signed Sudfeld to their practice squad, eventually promoting him during the season.
He isn’t the only former Redskin to make the Super Bowl, either.
For the Patriots, defensive lineman Ricky Jean Francois has carved out a role in Bill Belichick’s defense after signing with New England midway through the season. Jean Francois spent two years (2015, 2016) in Washington.
Both players have faced their challenges in the NFL. One of them is a game away from becoming a champion.
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Sudfeld was released because the Redskins needed the extra spot in a tight roster competition, and Redskins quarterbacks Kirk Cousins and Colt McCoy had a track record of staying healthy. He didn’t particularly impress the Redskins coaching staff during the preseason, making the decision to release him easier.
But the Eagles liked Sudfeld — giving him a signing bonus of $540,000 to just be on the practice squad. The amount made him one of the league’s highest paid practice squad players, and Sudfeld’s salary was higher than any of the Eagles’ rookie class.
It was a nice coincidence, too, the Eagles played the Redskins in Week 1, but Sudfeld downplayed any significance of being able to dish any insight on his former team.
Sudfeld’s season went on, joining the Eagles’ active roster in November. He even appeared in a Week 17 game against the Dallas Cowboys, throwing for 134 yards in three quarters. Philadelphia elected to keep Sudfeld and not bring in another quarterback once starter Carson Wentz tore his ACL in December.
Now, Sudfeld is responsible for mimicking Tom Brady, his childhood idol, during practice this week.
“If I’m forced in there, I know I’ll be ready,” Sudfeld told the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Jean Francois, meanwhile, took a different path. The Redskins cut him in March 2017, leading him to sign with the Green Bay Packers.
But Jean Francois’ time with the Packers was uneven. He was released Sept. 13 before re-signing with the Packers. He played a total of six games, being cut again in November.
He then joined New England, who waived him after three games. He was brought back 12 days later.
In total, Jean Francois was released a total of four times in 2017.
His second Patriots’ stint, however, has gone much better. Jean Francois impressed Belichick in the wake of defensive lineman Alan Branch’s knee injury. Branch is now healthy, and Jean Francois is still starting.
This will be Jean Francois’ second Super Bowl appearance, last making it with the San Francisco 49ers in 2013.
“To be on a team like (the Patriots) and be able to start again in a short period of time,” Jean Francois said, “that shows you how much trust and how much I had to do to be in that position.”
The Associated Press contributed to this story
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
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