Aussie rugby league convert Jordan Mailata won’t play in NFL season opener

HE performed a miracle by making the Super Bowl champion’s roster, but rugby league convert Jordan Mailata isn’t quite ready to play.

Australian Jordan Mailata won’t play in the 2018 season opener for the Philadelphia Eagles. Picture: Chris Szagola/AP

FORMER South Sydney Rabbitohs player Jordan Mailata will not play in the Philadelphia Eagles season opener against the Atlanta Falcons today after reportedly being made inactive.

The 21-year-old, who exceeded expectations by making the Super Bowl champion’s 53-man roster, will not be one of the 46 who suit up to play in Philly at 10.15am (AEST).

NBCS Philly NFL reporter Derrick Gunn revealed the Eagles players who would watch from the sidelines, including Mailata and quarterback Carson Wentz, who is still not ready to play as he continues his return from a knee injury.

Hollins, Jernigan , Rodgers , Maragos on IR.... Bradham suspended for 1 game ... inactives for tonight Wentz, Jeffery, Pryor , mailata , warmack , sweat

— Derrick Gunn (@RealDGunnNBCS) September 6, 2018

The news came after NFL Network reporter Mike Garafolo had hinted Mailata was a chance to appear when he posted this photograph.

@PSchrags These are not the hands of a man expecting to be inactive pic.twitter.com/eOEAgJxg3i

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) September 6, 2018

But the 203cm 157kg monster instead looks like just taking in the sights and sounds of Lincoln Financial Field and an expected capacity crowd of 69,000.

Here is @jordan_mailata taking it all in. #NFLKickoff #flyeaglesfly 🏈🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/CS2gZCL9sq

— NFLAustralia (@NFLAustralia) September 6, 2018

Eagles vice president of football operations Howie Roseman had earlier labelled Mailata as the team’s “53rd guy”, indicating the former Rabbitohs junior sits at the end of the team’s 53-man roster.

Mailata, who only played his first game of American football last month and is considered by Philadelphia as a two-year project, is also listed last among left tackles on the Eagles’ depth chart.

Eagles head coach Doug Pederson did solve the Eagles’ biggest personnel mystery by naming Nick Foles the starting quarterback against the Falcons while the more fancied Wentz continues to recover from torn knee ligaments suffered nine months ago.

— with AAP