PHILADELPHIA — Brett Toth was the last player lingering on the field. His family stood around him in the end zone. Lincoln Financial Field loomed above him.
The scoreboard — signaling Minnesota Vikings 26, Philadelphia Eagles 3 in the preseason finale — was largely irrelevant. The only number that matters this weekend is 53. Advertisement NFL teams must cut their rosters down to 53 active players by Tuesday.
Toth, 27, has been released three times in his career at this deadline. He knows how to approach these next few nerve-wracking days. “I can’t think about it,” Toth said.
“I’m going to spend some time with the family, get my body right, and whatever the decision is, definitely spend some time with the entire o-line group that we have in there because in reality, this could be the last time you see people.” “We’ve got some tough decisions to make,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said. “This is never a fun time here at this particular time.
” Here’s our crack at a final prediction for the 2024 Eagles’ 53-man roster. Quarterbacks (3) Jalen Hurts , Kenny Pickett , Tanner McKee Cut: Will Grier New offensive coordinator Kellen Moore worked with Week 1 offenses that only rostered two quarterbacks in three of his five seasons as a play-caller. But under general manager Howie Roseman, the Eagles last carried only two QBs through the initial cutdown in 2017, although they signed Nate Sudfeld to the practice squad as a No.
3 option a day after final cuts. Tanner McKee outplayed Kenny Pickett in the preseason. He’s also a larger threat in the downfield passing game.
Only two of Pickett’s eight attempts on Saturday were thrown beyond the sticks, according to TruMedia. He completed one, a wide-open, 19-yard throw to Parris Campbell on his first throw of the game. McKee completed three of eight passes beyond the sticks for 63 yards.
One of the attempts bounced off Joseph Ngata ’s hands and was intercepted in the end zone. Still, for reasons we’ve covered , the Eagles can afford to give themselves a runway through even the 2025 season to either decide on a QB2 or maintain the luxury of choice. Running backs (3) Saquon Barkley , Kenneth Gainwell , Will Shipley Practice squad: Tyrion Davis-Price , Lew Nichols Advertisement Cut: Kendall Milton This position group contains the offense’s most compelling mystery entering Week 1.
There’s been almost no indication in training camp of 1) how heavily the Eagles will lean on Saquon Barkley, nor 2) how effective Barkley will be playing within the most talented system he’s ever been a part of. The possibilities render conversations about a fourth running back moot, although Tyrion Davis-Price has proven he’s capable of gaining yardage in a pinch. He had 12 carries for 56 yards against the Vikings.
He had six straight rushes to start the game (although he lost a fumble on the final carry). Barkley has revealed in practices that he still has stop-start burst and lower body strength that’s the envy of the majority of running backs in the NFL. The Eagles held Barkley out in Wednesday’s final training camp practice to manage his load.
Brazil awaits a man seeking to solidify his legacy in football lore. Wide receivers (6) A.J.
Brown , DeVonta Smith , Jahan Dotson , Johnny Wilson , Britain Covey , Parris Campbell Practice squad: John Ross , Joseph Ngata, Austin Watkins Jr. Cut: Ainias Smith , Shaq Davis, Griffin Hebert , Jacob Harris Perhaps the most discouraging sign any fringe player can receive late in training camp is their organization trading for someone within their position group. The Eagles attempted to decrease the disparity in their wide receiver room by signing Parris Campbell, coaxing John Ross out of retirement and spending two late draft picks on Ainias Smith and Johnny Wilson.
That didn’t prevent the Eagles from acquiring Jahan Dotson in a package trade with the Washington Commanders on Thursday. Wilson and Ross have recently been sidelined in concussion protocol, and Campbell made his preseason debut after suffering a groin injury early in training camp. Joseph Ngata had a rough finish to the summer with two drops on Saturday.
The second bounced off his hands and was intercepted in the end zone. GO DEEPER Commanders trade WR Jahan Dotson to Eagles Tight ends (3) Dallas Goedert , Grant Calcaterra , E.J.
Jenkins Practice squad: Albert Okwuegbunam Jr. Injured reserve: McCallan Castles Cut: Armani Rogers , Kevin Foelsch E.J.
Jenkins and Kevin Foelsch were the starting duo in Moore’s 12 personnel packages on Saturday. Jenkins, who finished the preseason with nine catches for 102 yards, gained the upper hand for the TE3 spot when the Eagles released C.J.
Uzomah on Wednesday. Jenkins, 25, is in position to make his first 53-man roster, although he missed a key block Saturday on a stuffed fourth-and-1 run. Will the Eagles keep four tight ends? It wouldn’t be unprecedented for Moore.
He had four available tight ends at times with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2023. But Moore generally had three available with the Cowboys in 2022. Dallas Goedert is a linchpin tight end, someone the Eagles believe is more productive than his 1.
36 yards per route (26th among tight ends) and 0.16 expected points added per target (17th) portend, according to TruMedia. The Eagles opened the 2023 season with just three tight ends, and they should be able to do so again while stashing a fourth option on the practice squad.
Advertisement Offensive line (9) LT Jordan Mailata , LG Landon Dickerson , C Cam Jurgens , RG Mekhi Becton , RT Lane Johnson , G/C Brett Toth, T Fred Johnson, G/C Trevor Keegan , C/G Dylan McMahon Practice squad: T Laekin Vakalahi , T Darian Kinnard , C/G Matt Hennessy , G/C Nick Gates , OL Max Scharping Injured reserve: Le’Raven Clark Exempt: Laekin Vakalahi* *International pathway program Cut: Tyler Steen , Jason Poe , Anim Dankwah , Gottlieb Ayedze Philadelphia’s starting offensive line is set. Tyler Steen hasn’t practiced since exiting the second preseason game against the New England Patriots with an ankle injury. The Eagles haven’t yet placed Steen on injured reserve, and, if they do, Steen must sit out the entire 2024 season.
Such a decision would make interior depth a matter of immediate urgency. The organization typically likes to have at least two backup options at tackle, so it helps that Mekhi Becton, the No. 11 pick in 2020, has history at that position.
But even if Steen’s injury is a temporary ailment, the Eagles must decide if he’s more dependable than both Brett Toth and Trevor Keegan. Toth played right guard for the entire game Saturday. He’d previously only played center this preseason.
Defensive line (5) Jalen Carter , Jordan Davis, Milton Williams , Moro Ojomo , Thomas Booker Practice squad: Marlon Tuipulotu Cut: P.J. Mustipher , Gabe Hall This could be a difficult cut for new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.
If the Eagles only keep five interior defensive linemen — which is sensible considering the increased load Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis are expected to carry — a compelling argument can be made for Thomas Booker, Marlon Tuipulotu or P.J. Mustipher.
Booker was the most productive of the three this summer. He finished the preseason with eight tackles, four quarterback pressures and a sack. His 6-3, 301-pound frame serves Fangio’s system, which requires inside-outside versatility and sometimes fields as few as two interior defensive linemen in nickel packages.
It wouldn’t be surprising to see six defensive linemen on the Week 1 roster, but that’d require a reduction elsewhere that’s difficult to sacrifice. Advertisement Edge rushers (5) Josh Sweat , Bryce Huff , Brandon Graham , Nolan Smith, Jalyx Hunt Practice squad: Julian Okwara , Patrick Johnson Cut: Tarron Jackson , Terrell Lewis The Eagles answered the most compelling question about this position group when Bryce Huff showed he could be an every-down edge rusher in a preseason debut against the Patriots. The second-most compelling question: Why did Fangio want to play Nolan Smith so frequently? Smith played 63 snaps in the preseason, according to TruMedia.
He only played 47 preseason snaps as a first-round rookie in 2023. Julian Okwara might have played himself onto another roster on Saturday. He logged a sack and crushed third-string Vikings quarterback Jaren Hall on a goal-line pass that fell incomplete.
Linebackers (5) Zack Baun , Devin White , Nakobe Dean , Jeremiah Trotter Jr. , Oren Burks Practice squad: Ben VanSumeren Cut: Brandon Smith Oren Burks made up for lost time. He split two blocks for a run stop that forced a third-and-7 scenario.
He sacked Hall in the second quarter. Burks, a long-time role player and special teams contributor, suffered a knee injury on the first day of training camp and didn’t return until Aug. 17.
The Eagles signed Burks, 29, to a one-year, $1.5 million deal in their overhaul of its linebacker corps. One preseason game is a small sample size, but Burks revealed he’s probably too big of a playmaker to release.
Burks did drop what should’ve been a sure-fire pick on a batted pass. At least the Philadelphia Phillies won’t come calling. Cornerbacks (7) Darius Slay, Isaiah Rodgers , Quinyon Mitchell , Kelee Ringo , Avonte Maddox , Cooper DeJean , Eli Ricks Practice squad: Zech McPhearson , Josh Jobe Injured reserve: Tyler Hall , Mekhi Garner Cut: Shon Stephens , Parry Nickerson Roseman isn’t going to let a lack of depth in the secondary doom Philadelphia’s defense for a second straight season.
Eli Ricks, who ended training camp with a strong practice , fills out a unit that should be formidable. Fangio has a wealth of talented, yet unproven, defensive backs who can play multiple positions. Avonte Maddox, who’s played safety, is counted here as a cornerback because he’s most likely to appear in the slot in Dime packages.
The Eagles will eventually have available depth at safety that won’t require Maddox to play where he’s least familiar. Saturday was the long-awaited preseason debut of second-round pick Cooper DeJean. The No.
40 pick played 43 defensive snaps — a 63.2 percentage that’s close to the 70-85 percent range Fangio said nickels typically play in a given game. Sirianni said he thought DeJean “played fast and physical” in his debut.
“A lot of heavy breathing,” DeJean said. “My adrenaline was running so much. But it’s good to get out there, hit people, knock the rust off a little bit.
” GO DEEPER NFL Hope-O-Meter: How optimistic are you about your team in 2024? Safeties (4) C.J. Gardner-Johnson , Reed Blankenship , James Bradberry, Caden Sterns Active/physically unable to play: Sydney Brown Practice squad: Tristin McCollum , Andre Sam The Eagles don’t have enough depth at safety to dispatch James Bradberry.
Sydney Brown is still rehabbing from his season-ending ACL injury. This projects a scenario in which Brown is moved to the reserve/PUP list during roster cutdowns and must sit out the first four games. Caden Sterns, who suffered a season-ending torn patella in 2023, hasn’t yet dressed out, and the Eagles would only cut him before they got a proper look at him if they felt Tristin McCollum or Andre Sam are better options.
Under these circumstances, it’s not really sensible for the Eagles to get rid of Bradberry unless they’re able to acquire someone else of equal or better value. If C.J.
Gardner-Johnson and Reed Blankenship stay healthy, this depth issue may never see the light of day. But Gardner-Johnson already missed time in training camp with a shoulder injury. If something similar happens in the regular season, safety becomes a big target for opponents to exploit.
Advertisement Specialists (3) K Jake Elliott, P Braden Mann, LS Rick Lovato Jake Elliott’s 41-yard field goal supplied the Eagles their only points on Saturday. Elliott finished the preseason 3-of-4 on field goal attempts, including the 49-yard game-winner in the preseason opener, which he kicked immediately after doinking a 50-yard attempt. Braden Mann and Rick Lovato only needed to punt once against the Vikings.
The coverage team helped net a 53-yard punt. (Top photo of Joseph Ngata: Matt Slocum / AP Photo).
