With final cuts due to the league at 9 PM on Friday night, the Eagles front office had to make many hard decisions, as the 75 man roster needed to be cut down to just 53.
They have released 20 players so far, and have two left to reach the maximum allowed on their roster:
- S O.J. Atogwe
Atogwe was brought in as a safety blanket for starting FS Kurt Coleman, and the veteran experience he brings to the table would have made him a great mentor and backup. However, he was limited by a hamstring injury, and when he finally got on the playing field he did little to impress. He is not practice squad eligible.
- TE Brett Brackett
The Penn State product was signed midway through last season and was put on the practice squad, but finally had a chance to compete for the backup Tight End job this Training Camp. He had trouble reeling in passes, and blocking certainly is not his forte. Brackett is eligible to return to the practice squad.
- LB Keenan Clayton
Clayton is a great special teams player, and he certainly made an impact during the Preseason. However, he was competing with Akeem Jordan for the OLB position, and with Jamar Chaney's injury and Brian Rolle's ineffectiveness, Jordan was given the starting job. With a logjam at LB, Clayton found himself on the outside. He is not practice squad eligible.
- DT Landon Cohen
He was signed just before Thursday's game with the New York Jets. No surprise here.
- DT Antonio Dixon
Dixon signed a $1.925 million tender this offseason, but certainly did not look like a guy who earned. He looked rather lethargic on the field, and just didn't seem to fit the mold of a Jim Washburn type player. Dixon is not practice squad eligible.
- TE Chase Ford
Ford, an undrafted free agent from the University of Miami , scored himself a contract after a great showing at the Senior Bowl. Unlike his counterpart Brackett, Ford is a great blocker, but has horrible hands. He is practice squad eligible.
- WR Mardy Gilyard
Gilyard signed a two year deal at the end of last season with Philadelphia, but simply could not make his way on the Eagles roster. He had 8 catches for 107 yards (1 TD) and would have made a great depth Wide Reciever, but GM Howie Roseman and Co. did not agree. Gilyard is not practice squad eligible.
- WR Chad Hall
You may not find a nicer guy on the Eagles roster than Chad Hall, but simply lacks the size and playmaking skills that were needed to keep him around. With Damaris Johnson the last Wide Receiver to make the team, Philadelphia will go into week one with just 5 WR's, including an injured Riley Cooper. Hall is practice squad eligible.
- CB Joselio Hanson
The biggest shock of the day came when the Eagles parted ways with veteran CB Joselio Hanson. Hanson had been with the Eagles since 2006, but could not beat out rookie CB Brandon Boykin for the starting nickel back job. Hanson is not practice squad eligible.
- FB Emil Igwenagu
Igwenagu was brought in as a free agent to challenge Stanley Havili for the starting FB job, but Havili won it outright. With his ability to play both FB and TE, it's likely the Eagles keep him around on the practice squad.
- T D.J. Jones
Like Keenon Clayton, Jones was caught as the odd man out in a crowded field of Offensive Tackles. Acquired from Baltimore early in the offseason, Jones is practice squad eligible.
- QB Mike Kafka
If Mike Kafka had been given the chance to play, he would have almost certainly owned the third-string Quarterback job. However, he broke his hand in the Preseason opener, and Trent Edwards had looked great in live action. The job was given to Edwards, but Kafka will certainly find himself another pro job. He is practice squad eligible, but expect him to be snatched up.
- P Mat McBriar
The Eagles decided to let veteran Mat McBriar go, and gave the Punting job to Chas Henry, who certainly showed nothing to deserve it.
- WR Marvin McNutt
A 6th round pick out of Iowa, McNutt had a great chance to emerge as Red Zone threat. Instead, he looked miserable in preseason action, dropping most of the passes thrown his way. Expect the Eagles to keep him around on the Practice Squad in case someone gets injured.
- LB Adrian Moten
The definiton of a "camp body". Moten was brought in to put a little pressure on the other guys, but never really had a shot at making the roster. He is not practice squad eligible.
- DT Ollie Ogbu
Acquired from the Colts at the beginning of camp, Ogbu found himself stuck behind the likes of Cullen Jenkins, Fletcher Cox, Derek Landri, and Cedric Thornton. There was no chance he would make the roster, but he is practice squad eligible.
- LB Ryan Rau
Rau wins the "Jeremy Thornburg award", a made up award given to the player who turned heads in the Preseason, but had zero chance of making the roster. The rookie from Portland State is practice squad eligible.
- DE Monte Taylor
Taylor was in a hole to begin with, attempting to earn himself a job at the Eagles deepest position. He is practice squad eligible, but Philadelphia has no use for him.
- S Phillip Thomas
Thomas was an undrafted free agent from Syracuse who looked decent in limited action, but keeping him on the 53 man roster would be a mistake. Expect Thomas to take a trip to the Eagles practice squad.
- DT Frank Trotter
Trotter was given a shot to prove his worth as a starter vs. the Jets in the preseason finale, but seemed to just take up space. He is practice squad eligible.
- OL Steve Vallos
Many had expected Vallos to steal a spot on the roster because of his versatility at both the Guard and Center position, but Philadelphia opted for Dallas Reynolds instead. Vallos is not practice squad eligible.
- OL Brandon Washington
Washington was a 6th round pick and teammate of Chase Ford at Miami, but played little in the preseason. He is practice squad eligible.
In other news, Safety Colt Anderson was activated from the Physically Unable To Perform list. He tore his ACL late in 2011 in a loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
Philadelphia may be at 53 men currently, but there work is not over. They'll be putting in waiver claims for multiple players over the next few days.
The Eagles roster, for now, looks like this:
Quarterbacks (3): Michael Vick, Nick Foles, Trent Edwards.
Running Backs (4): LeSean McCoy, Dion Lewis, Bryce Brown, Chris Polk.
Fullback (1): Stanley Havili
Wide Receivers (5): DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, Jason Avant, Riley Cooper, Damaris Johnson.
Tight Ends (2): Brent Celek, Clay Harbor.
Offensive linemen (9): King Dunlap, Evan Mathis, Jason Kelce, Danny Watkins, Todd Herremans, Demetress Bell, Julian Vandervelde, Dennis Kelly, Dallas Reynolds.
Defensive Linemen (10): Jason Babin, Trent Cole, Philip Hunt, Brandon Graham, Vinny Curry, Darryl Tapp, Cullen Jenkins, Cedric Thornton, Fletcher Cox, Derek Landri
Linebackers (6): DeMeco Ryans, Akeem Jordan, Jamar Chaney, Mychal Kendricks, Casey Matthews, Brian Rolle
Cornerbacks (6): Nnamdi Asomugha, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Curtis Marsh, Brandon Boykin, Brandon Hughes, Trevard Lindley
Safeties (4): Nate Allen, Kurt Coleman, Colt Anderson, Jaiquawn Jarrett
Specialists (3): Jon Dorenbos, Chas Henry, Alex Henery.
