Donnie Jones may have announced his retirement from football, but the Philadelphia Eagles may not have to look far for his replacement. Philadelphia signed Cameron Johnston to a futures deal in January, who nearly won the punting duties from Jones once the preseason concluded last year.

Johnston averaged 44.3 yards per punt in the 2017 preseason, a full yard higher than Jones...but the Eagles chose experience over the undrafted rookie. Jones also had four punts inside the 20-yard line to Johnston's zero. Going with Jones turned out to be the right decision for the Eagles, but the 2018 job looks to be Johnston's to lose.

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Johnston already has chemistry with Eagles long-snapper Rick Lovato from the 2017 preseason. Lovato alternated long-snapping duties with Jon Dorenbos in training camp, and won the job one the Eagles traded Dorenbos to the New Orleans Saints. Lovato worked exclusively with Johnston on punts and field goals in the 2017 offseason and in training camp. Johnston, like Jones, was a holder on field goals in the preseason.

"It's been going good. It's a great battle to watch," Pederson said on the 2017 cap battle between Jones and Johnston. "I mean, you've seen these games, they're alternating punts. I think sometimes it might be unfair one way or the other because one guy may get more kicks in a game than the other. At the same time, again, it's making both of them better."

Cameron Johnston was a holder in the 2017 preseason, similar to Donnie Jones with the Eagles.

Johnston was one of the nation's best punters over his four years at Ohio State. He finished as a finalist for the Ray Guy Award in 2016, was fifth in the country in punting average at 46.7 yards and put 26 of his 56 punts inside the 20-yard line.

The Eagles may seek some outside competition for Johnston, but he appears to be the front-runner to replace Jones. A repeat performance of 2017 training camp and preseason should net Johnston as the Eagles newest punter.

To follow Eagles reporter Jeff Kerr on Twitter: @JeffKerr247