The Northwestern Wildcats football program has been known as a destination for high school offensive linemen, where numerous players have been developed into NFL prospects and draft picks over the last decade-plus.

One of them is Evan Beerntsen, who was selected by the Baltimore Ravens with the 253rd overall pick (seventh round) of the 2026 NFL Draft after playing with David Braun's team in Evanston, Ill. for his senior season in 2025. 

Beerntsen has had a whirlwind journey since entering the NFL, having been released by the Ravens on Aug. 30 and picked up by the Seattle Seahawks before he was waived on Oct. 21, 2026. 

News broke Wednesday that the 6-foot-3, 302-pound lineman was picked up again and is headed to the NFC East. 

Beerntsen was listed as one of three practice squad pickups by coach Nick Sirianni's Eagles on Wednesday, including wide receiver Quentin Skinner and defensive back Shaun Wade. The team also said it placed running back Dameon Pierce on the injured reserve list and signed running back Jaydon Blue to its active roster. 

Beerntsen played and started in all 15 games as an offensive guard with Braun's team last season as a graduate student from Green Bay, Wisconsin. He earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention honors with the Wildcats and did not allow a quarterback sack or hit the entire season. 

He was Pro Football Focus' 11th-ranked guard nationally, fourth in the Big Ten, during his final college season with Northwestern, and also graded out as the nation's seventh best run blocker at his position; fourth in the Big Ten. 

The former Wildcats guard transferred to Braun's program from South Dakota State, where he was an all-Missouri Valley Conference performer. 

He will train in preparation for potentially helping a banged-up Eagles team that lost 38-21 to the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football earlier this week. 

Beernsten will hope to work his way onto the Eagles' 53-man roster this season during what has become a challenging year for Sirianni's team.

Northwestern has landed numerous offensive line contributors on NFL rosters in recent years including 2026 NFL Draft pick Caleb Tiernan (OT) of the Minnesota Vikings, 2021 NFL Draft pick Rashawn Slater (OT) of the Los Angeles Rams, and 2023 NFL Draft pick Peter Skoronski (OG) of the Tennessee Titans. 

Beernsten had 54 career starts in college and performed well at the East-West Shrine Game postseason event after his 2025 season with the Wildcats. He will now look to help an Eagles team in desperate need of help on an offense that has been decimated with injuries.