Breaking down the Eagles practice squad

By: Jesse Larch, Sports Talk Philly Staff

Yesterday the Eagles added 10 players to the team's practice squad. Nine of the practice squad members were with the team in camp, while one of them comes from a division rival. 

Quarterback Nate Sudfeld was a sixth round pick by the Washington Redskins in the 2016 NFL draft. Sudfeld went 33/56 for 360 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions this preseason for Washington. He played sparingly this preseason until the final week when he threw 33 passes and completed 22 of them for 228 yards. 

Sudfeld stands 6-feet-6-inches tall and weighs roughly 227 pounds, fitting the bill of the big bodied quarterbacks on the Eagles roster. 

The Eagles were expected to add a developmental quarterback to the practice squad, which Sudfeld certainly is, but what is especially interesting about the addition of the Indiana product is the team that he is coming from. 

The Eagles play the Redskins to open the season, and after going through one full season and an offseason with the Redskins, Sudfeld will be able to provide some intel about the Redskins offense heading into week one, and according to Craig Hoffman of 106.7 the fan in Washington D.C., it was Sudfeld's choice to switch teams:

Source says the #Redskins did offer Sudfeld a spot on the practice squad. Was a tough decision for him, but he went with the #Eagles.

— Craig Hoffman (@CraigHoffman) September 3, 2017

Also added to the practice squad were guard/center Josh Andrews, offensive tackle Dillon Gordon, tight end Billy Brown, running back Byron Marshall, wide receivers Bryce Treggs and Greg Ward Jr., defensive tackle Justin Hamilton, linebacker Nate Gerry, and cornerback C.J. Smith. 

The two offensive lineman are necessary additions with the 53-man roster only carrying eight offensive lineman. Andrews and Gordon will give a break to the rest of the group as well as go a long way in developing two players who the Eagles clearly like. Gordon was used as a fullback and is a converted tight end, so he provides an element of versatility if promoted.

Billy Brown is a name that some thought had a real shot at making the roster. He is a well-rounded tight end prospect who the Eagles really liked. Brown will get to further refine his skills, and make a push for a roster spot next year, especially if Brent Celek retires or Trey Burton enters free agency next offseason. 

Byron Marshall spent last season on the practice squad before getting a late season promotion to the main roster, and this season he will go back to where he started. That means that the Eagles will have six players carrying the ball in camp. Marshall has flashed both in his regular season appearances and in camp, and will look to take a step closer to a roster spot next year when LeGarrette Blount and Darren Sproles could both be gone. 

Bryce Treggs and Greg Ward Jr. will make it 8 wide receivers in camp. Mike Groh will have a lot of developmental projects this season in Nelson Agholor, Marcus Johnson, Shelton Gibson, Mack Hollins, and Greg Ward Jr. 

Ward is another extremely versatility player for the practice squad after he played quarterback at a high level for the University of Houston and made the switch to wide receiver where he showed potential. He also has upside as a special teamer. 

Bryce Treggs will join Ward on the practice squad after being somewhat of a surprise cut. The speedster showed potential as a slot option in the preseason and intrigued the Eagles enough to give him another year with the team to develop. 

Justin Hamilton probably would have made the team is Beau Allen did not recover from his torn pectoral before the season started. Brought in for depth, he will push the other lineman while also proving himself. 

Nate Gerry is a player who showed a lot of promise after the Eagles took a chance on him in the draft. The converted safety has an ideal skillset to play as a hybrid linebacker, a position that is trending in the league. Gerry has a good build and good ball skills, but the Eagles likely want him to put some more weight on and adjust to the position before putting him into games that matter. 

Gerry is the only one of the Eagles 2017 draft picks to not make the team out of camp. Howie Roseman mentioned that Gerry was one of the final players to get cut, so year on the practice squad will help him lock up a roster spot next season, if not sooner. 

The final player is one the Eagles fans have had a chance to become familiar with over the past two seasons. C.J. Smith appeared to be a good faith signing when the undrafted free agent signed with the Eagles last year, seemingly in part due to Carson Wentz's praise of his college teammate.

Mike Mayock has mentioned continuously when covering Eagles' games how Wentz told him that he believes C.J. Smith is someone else from North Dakota State that can find success at the NFL level. C.J. Smith had a strong camp and at times appeared to be pushing for a spot with the starters. 

Smith was a cut last offseason and this offseason, but made big strides from year one to year two. Smith has a very good chance to finally make the roster next season assuming he has not unseated someone by the end of this season.

Guard/center Tyler Orlosky did not got selected to the practice squad after being considered the Eagles top undrafted free agent in a bit of surprise. Also coming as a surprise is Villanova product Don Cherry's omission from the practice squad after being with the group last season and like Smith, making strides from year one to year two.