The Philadelphia Eagles have signed long snapper Charley Hughlett to a one-year contract, likely indicating the end of Rick Lovato's long tenure with the team. Lovato, a free agent and former Pro Bowler, had spent the last nine seasons with the Eagles, contributing to two Super Bowl victories. Hughlett, who previously played for the Cleveland Browns, has a decade of NFL experience but spent most of last season on injured reserve due to a rib injury.

Hughlett's signing comes amid concerns regarding kicker Jake Elliott's performance last season, where he missed six attempts from beyond 50 yards. While Elliott rebounded during the playoffs, including a perfect Super Bowl performance, the Eagles are taking steps to solidify their special teams unit, beginning with the addition of Hughlett.

This season, several NFL players with ties to Virginia have made notable contributions to their teams. Players like Joey Blount of the Arizona Cardinals and Tremaine Edmunds of the Chicago Bears have seen varying levels of action, with some starting games and others primarily contributing on special teams.

In addition, several players are currently on injured reserve or have not yet appeared in games, such as Hendon Hooker of the Detroit Lions and Dalton Keene of the Houston Texans. Overall, the impact of these Virginia-connected players is being closely monitored as the season progresses.