Eagles Sign M.J. McFarland, Ty Powell

Ty Powell. (USA Today Sports)

Hours before OTAs kick off, the Eagles signed tight end M.J. McFarland and linebacker Ty Powell, the team announced. To make room for the additions, they also released quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson and offensive lineman Brett Boyko.

All 19 of Powell’s career appearances have come in Buffalo, including 14 in 2014, when Jim Schwartz was the Bills’ defensive coordinator. The 2013 seventh-round pick, however, spent 2015 on the injured reserve with a torn ACL. The Eagles previously signed Leodis McKelvin, Ron Brooks and Nigel Bradham from Schwartz’s Buffalo unit.

McFarland, meanwhile, participated in the Eagles’ rookie minicamp as a tryout player. After transfering from Texas to UTEP, McFarland was reportedly suspended by the NCAA last season for testing positive for a banned substance and didn’t play at all.