Devon Allen, Olympic hurdler, signs with Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles said that they have signed Devon Allen, who placed fifth then fourth in the 110m hurdles at the last two Olympics.

Allen, a former University of Oregon wide receiver whose last snap was in 2016, previously said he planned to return to football after this track and field season. Allen will compete in track through the world championships in Eugene, Oregon, in July, assuming he makes the team, his agent said Friday.

“It’s now or never because I don’t want to get too old,” the 27-year-old Allen said last month about football, according to World Athletics Championships Oregon22. “I don’t want to turn 30, 31 and then try and get into the NFL.”

Allen participated at the University of Oregon pro day last Friday. He ran a 4.35-second 40-yard dash, according to the Eagles.

Last year, Allen missed an Olympic medal by four hundredths of a second, then a month later clocked a personal-best 12.99 seconds. He ranked second in the world by best time in 2021, trailing only countryman Grant Holloway, the 2019 World champion and Tokyo Olympic silver medalist.

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When Allen turned pro in track in November 2016, he said his plan was to win an Olympic gold medal in Tokyo and then move back to football.

“My ideal scenario is to run track for the next couple years, and then 2020 Olympics, win a gold medal, have the world record, put that to the side and try to play football,” Allen said then.

Allen at first returned to play wide receiver for the Ducks after the 2016 Rio Games. He tore his left ACL and MCL and suffered meniscus damage in a non-contact injury defending a punt return in a game Sept. 17, 2016. That was his last play.

It was the same injury he suffered on