Now Eric is an agent?

since Kensi is still on leave and recovering, they are alternating the other agents as Deeks' temporary partner just until Kensi returns.

It is silly to have Eric as a field agent but if you have watched the previous seasons, Eric has actually worked the field a few times before...and Eric was the one who "took down" Artem Fedor in a previous episode, which is why Eric insisted on working the field with Deeks on this particular case...I think it would probably just be a one time thing...they'd probably get Nell to work with Deeks again next time just until Kensi returns.

Didn't Granger just want him out of the office because of the ridiculous profile he was writing on Artem? From there, they just got stuck as partners when the situation escalated. But I agree that Beale seems to be regressing and becoming less professional--more like comic relief than geek.