PHILADELPHIA -- Miles Austin grew up around Giants fans, went to college with a lot of Philadelphia Eagles fans and spent eight years playing for the Dallas Cowboys.

The veteran wide receiver will return to the NFC East after a year with the Cleveland Browns. Austin signed a one-year contract with the Eagles on Tuesday.

It isn’t clear how Austin will fit into coach Chip Kelly’s offense. Riley Cooper started all 16 games last season, but Kelly could welcome an upgrade at that spot. Jeremy Maclin is gone, which opens up another spot. Jordan Matthews, who played in the slot as a rookie, could remain there or move outside.

"My role is to go in and prepare as hard as I can and see where that takes me," Austin said in a conference call with reporters.

Austin said he is comfortable both outside and in the slot, so he could play any of the three wide receiver positions. In his eight years with the Cowboys, Austin ranked eighth all-time in franchise history with 4,481 receiving yards. He went to two Pro Bowls during his career in Dallas.

Austin, 30, said Philadelphia was a good fit for him, football-wise as well as geographically.

"It just seemed like it was the right thing to do," Austin said. "The team’s already great, obviously, without me. I just figured it was something I wanted to be a part of and join in and go in, full swing, and be a part of it. I grew up in Jersey, so that was part of the decision process."

Injuries have plagued Austin during his career. He said he felt he developed a better stretching routine to cut down on the soft-tissue injuries, especially to his hamstrings. But then, late in the 2014 season, Austin fell hard on his side and lacerated a kidney. That cost him four games.

"Obviously, there’s nothing I can do about a kidney," Austin said. "I don’t even know how you can lacerate a kidney without stabbing yourself. I felt as good as I felt last year, physically, with my legs and everything else. I’m just going to continue that, learn some stuff here and go on from there."

Austin said the "opportunity to win" was his primary reason for signing with the Eagles. It didn’t hurt that his friend, running back DeMarco Murray, signed with the Eagles this month.

"Obviously, me and DeMarco are really close," Austin said. "So I was in communication with him as a friend when he was figuring out what he was doing in his process of being a free agent. Me and him, we were talking back and forth when he signed up with Philly. He was telling me how he experienced coming in and speaking with the coaches. It kind of reaffirmed all the positive thoughts I already had."