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Now that the Eagles’ preseason schedule is thankfully over, Philadelphia’s focus shifts to cutting their roster down to the regular season 53-player limit before the 4:00 PM Eastern deadline on Tuesday, August 27. Here’s our best effort at projecting what the ORIGINAL 53 is going to look like. Note that the Birds will likely make some tweaks (injured reserve placements, trades, waiver claims) before they actually play the Green Bay Packers in Week 1. Also note that this activity is about predicting what the Eagles will do as opposed to what we think they should do.
OFFENSE
QB: Jalen Hurts, Kenny Pickett, Tanner McKee (3) [3]
Hurts turned in the strongest training camp of his career. Pickett hasn’t done much to inspire confidence … but he does have real game experience, so, there’s that. McKee should’ve been given more of a legitimate chance to win the QB2 job but he didn’t fully capitalize on his limited opportunities. Will Grier could return on the practice squad or maybe even join the coaching staff.
OUT: Will Grier
RB: Saquon Barkley, Kenny Gainwell, Will Shipley (3) [6]
Barkley had a relatively quiet summer but he’s set to see a lot of touches this year. Gainwell finished camp strong, cementing his status as RB2. Shipley figures to see some occasional action. Tyrion Davis-Price ran hard in the preseason but ball security issues (both drops and fumbles) have been plaguing him dating back to spring practices, making him untrustworthy. The Eagles should be able to get away with keeping RB4 on the practice squad.
OUT: Tyrion Davis-Price, Lew Nichols, Kendall Milton
WR: A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Jahan Dotson, Britain Covey, Johnny Wilson, Ainias Smith (6) [12]
A.J. and DeVonta look awesome as ever. Dotson is clearly here to be WR3. Covey is a solid WR4 who can contribute as a possession guy in addition to returning punts. Wilson’s big play ability is intriguing but his stock has taken a hit after struggling and missing time due to a concussion. Smith has done enough to rebound from a really rough start to camp; Howie Roseman won’t want to cut bait with a draft pick so soon. Keeping a vet like Parris Campbell or John Ross on the practice squad for depth makes sense for the team. Joseph Ngata looked good in the second preseason game but really struggled in the finale.
OUT: Parris Campbell, John Ross, Joseph Ngata, Jacob Harris, Griffin Hebert, Austin Watkins Jr.
TE: Dallas Goedert, Grant Calcaterra (2) [14]
Goedert had a couple practices where he really stood out and then a bunch where he didn’t at all. Calcaterra stepped up to earn the TE2 job. The Eagles will look to add a third tight end (and maybe even a fourth?) after the original cut down to 53. That could involve bringing back E.J. Jenkins, if he clears waivers. Jenkins had a good summer but he was unsigned for most of last season, which could indicate he’s not exactly in high demand. Keep an eye on a potential Jack Stoll reunion since he doesn’t seem to be in a great position to make the Giants’ roster. Albert O has basically done nothing since the Eagles traded for him last year around this time and he doesn’t play special teams.
OUT: E.J. Jenkins, Albert Okwuegbunam, Kevin Foelsch, Armani Rogers,
OL: Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurgens, Mekhi Becton, Lane Johnson, Tyler Steen, Fred Johnson, Brett Toth, Trevor Keegan, Dylan McMahon (10) [24]
The starting offensive line is set with Becton winning the right guard competition. Steen’s injury recovery timeline is unclear; perhaps the Eagles will use the new injured reserve mechanics to put him on IR to prevent using a roster spot on him while still keeping him eligible to return this season? Keegan could also be a candidate in that regard since he got hurt in practice last week and is behind other veterans on the depth chart. Steen might be the Eagles’ swing tackle when he’s healthy … until then, it’s Fred Johnson. Jeff Stoutland seems to really like him some Brett Toth. McMahon has done enough to make the team. Darian Kinnard was a tough call since the Eagles seem to like him a little bit but he should be able to return on the practice squad. Matt Hennessy and/or Nick Gates could also provide veteran depth on the practice squad.
OUT: Darian Kinnard, Matt Hennessy, Nick Gates, Max Scharping, Gottlieb Ayedze, Jason Poe
DEFENSE
EDGE: Bryce Huff, Josh Sweat, Brandon Graham, Nolan Smith, Jalyx Hunt, Patrick Johnson (6) [30]
It’ll be interesting to see how Huff handles his transition to being more of a full-time player. Sweat is entering a contract year; this is a big opportunity to re-prove himself. BG looks like he still has gas left in the tank; he’s set to finish his career strong. Smith playing so much in the preseason finale was not a very encouraging sign for how the coaching staff views him. If he’s considered to be integral to their pass rush rotation this year, why would he be playing in a meaningless game while so many others were not? Hunt looks like he’s ready to contribute sooner than expected. Johnson is not a lock but he had a good summer and he can help out on special teams. Bringing Julian Okwara back on the practice squad would be ideal but he might land with a new team.
OUT: Julian Okwara, Terrell Lewis, Tarron Jackson
DT: Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Milton Williams, Marlon Tuipulotu, Moro Ojomo (5) [35)
Carter is a beast. Davis needs to take a big step this year. If the Eagles don’t extend Williams soon, he’s going to cash in (whether Philly or elsewhere) even bigger after a strong season. The Eagles like Tuipulotu as a rotational player. Ojomo had a good summer and looks ready to make a leap in Year 2. Leaving Thomas Booker IV out here was tough but it’s not like teams were dying to sign him off the Eagles’ practice squad last year so he might be able to make it back. Booker IV and/or PJ Mustipher could be good to have on the practice squad for even more DT depth.
OUT: Thomas Booker IV, PJ Mustipher, Gabe Hall
LB: Devin White, Zack Baun, Nakobe Dean, Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Ben VanSumeren (5) [40]
White and Baun are projected to be the Week 1 starters but “starting” might not be the most relevant way to qualify importance at this position. It’s quite possible Nakobe Dean plays more snaps than at least one of those two guys even if he’s not starting; there could be a linebacker rotation. JTJ will push for playing time as the year goes on. BVS looked good on both defense and special teams; no need to expose him to waivers. Oren Burks made a strong final impression in the preseason finale but 1) he should look good as a veteran going up against young third-string guys and 2) do teams really want to guarantee his 2024 salary by keeping him on the roster for Week 1? Brandon Smith would’ve made the roster in years past, when the Eagles were worse off at linebacker. Smith should be back on the practice squad.
OUT: Oren Burks, Brandon Smith
CB: Darius Slay, Isaiah Rodgers, Quinyon Mitchell, Kelee Ringo, Cooper DeJean (5) [45]
Slay is starting. He doesn’t look like he’s fallen off a cliff despite being one of the oldest corners in the NFL. Rodgers appears poised to start on the outside across from Slay but it might actually be Mitchell who holds that role in base defense. Rodgers could come in to play the outside when Mitchell shifts inside to the slot. Ringo could eventually overtake Rodgers but he’s a backup for now. DeJean might not be ready to play right away after missing so much time in the summer; he looked rusty in the preseason finale, which was to be expected. Eli Ricks could very well make the roster but he hasn’t had a great summer and he isn’t the most helpful special teams player. I could see Ricks being kept on the original roster and then getting traded, so I might kick myself for not projecting the Eagles to keep him at least temporarily. Josh Jobe is good on special teams but has struggled as a defender, by Vic Fangio’s own admission (he said Jobe has been too grabby, leading to penalties). Parry Nickerson could be a cromulent practice squad veteran depth guy.
OUT: Eli Ricks, Josh Jobe, Parry Nickerson, Zech McPhearson, Shon Stephens
S: Reed Blankenship, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, James Bradberry, Avonte Maddox, Tristin McCollum (5) [50]
I don’t feel good about this prediction beyond Blankenship and CJGJ as the obvious starters. I’ve been reluctant to believe the Eagles will keep Bradberry considering he’s not even a sure depth option and he doesn’t provide special teams value. But I guess I feel like they might’ve cut him by now to help him catch on with another team if they were ready to give up on him? I wouldn’t keep Bradberry, if it was up to me. Maddox provides depth at both safety and nickel corner. McCollum couldn’t have realistically done much more to make the team; he deserves to make the roster and the Eagles might not want to risk losing him. Caden Sterns seems like a prime candidate for the new injured reserve mechanic where the Eagles can put him on IR to help get down to 53 and still designate him to return at some point this season.
OUT: Caden Sterns, Andre’ Sam
SPECIAL TEAMS
K: Jake Elliott (1) [51]
Elliott is the Eagles’ kicker. Nice to see him make all his kicks since missing two in the first preseason game.
P: Braden Mann (1) [52]
Mann is the Eagles’ punter.
LS: Rick Lovato (1) [53]
Lovato is the Eagles’ long snapper.
INJURY DESIGNATION
RESERVE/PUP – PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO PERFORM: Sydney Brown
At this point, keeping Brown on PUP to start the season makes the most sense. Why rush him back into the fold after he’s missed all of training camp and every preseason game? Brown going on reserve/PUP makes him ineligible to play in the Eagles’ first four games. And then the team has a bye in Week 5, so, that sets Brown to make his 2024 debut in Week 6 (October 13) at the earliest. Fittingly, Brown could play against the Browns.
INJURED RESERVE
As previously mentioned, the Eagles can use a new IR mechanic to put up to two players on IR before cuts down to 53 and still have them be eligible to play in 2024. Caden Sterns seems like a fit for that. Maybe Steen or Keegan for the other spot? We’ll see.
PRACTICE SQUAD
QB Will Grier, RB Tyrion Davis-Price, WR John Ross, WR Joseph Ngata, TE Jack Stoll, OT Anim Dankwah, OL Darian Kinnard, OG Nick Gates, EDGE Julian Okwara, DT Thomas Booker IV, DT P.J. Mustipher, LB Oren Burks, LB Brandon Smith, CB Josh Jobe, S Caden Sterns, S Andre’ Sam
International exemption: OT Laekin Vakalahi
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