The Eagles’ bye week has turned into a strange little purge, and the latest move might be the hardest one to explain. After NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported that veteran wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown was being released at his request so he could sign elsewhere and play more, NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport said Philadelphia is also parting ways with offensive tackle Fred Johnson.
Johnson had been working as depth behind Jordan Mailata at left tackle and behind Lane Johnson and rookie Markel Bell at right tackle. Over three and a half seasons with the Eagles, he started 14 games.
That’s what makes this one so puzzling. Brown’s exit at least had a football case attached to it - he had just five catches all season, so his role had clearly dried up.
Johnson is a different story. He may not be a starter, but he’s the kind of useful backup teams usually hang onto, especially when the line is already shaky.
And shaky is putting it mildly. The Eagles have given up the third-most sacks in the league with 30, and they’re 28th in rushing yards per game at 88.6.
Bell has struggled at right tackle, and there doesn’t appear to be a veteran safety net waiting behind him. So when a depth tackle with starting experience gets cut, the question hangs there: why?
It also raises a bigger one about where this is headed. Releasing two veteran players during a bye week is not the kind of move that usually signals calm. It looks more like a team clearing space for younger players, or maybe one that’s willing to let veterans walk so they can get opportunities somewhere else.
Trading Cam Jurgens and Jordan Davis for a first-round pick and two second-round picks would be one thing, because those kinds of offers are hard to ignore. But cutting players who are better than a lot of the alternatives on the roster sends a different message entirely.
Maybe this is the start of a real youth movement. Maybe the Eagles are thinking about the long game and a top-five draft pick in 2027.
Either way, fans should be ready for anything. With players already heading out and coaches potentially next, the final eight games suddenly look a lot more interesting.
In Other News...
Eagles Just Sent A Clear Message About Their Receiver Plans
The Eagles used their Week 10 bye to make a notable shift at receiver, mutually agreeing to waive veteran Marquise Brown. It ends a brief stint in Philadelphia for Brown, who appeared in four games and posted five catches for 63 yards without finding the end zone.
Browns next stop now depends on whether he clears waivers, which would make him an unrestricted free agent. For the Eagles, the move signals a clearer turn in how they want to shape the receiver room as they come out of the break and into the stretch run. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Draft Plans Are Already Pointing To A Sneaky Position Fit
The Eagles already have an extra first-round pick sitting in their 2027 draft stash after the Jordan Davis trade, and that kind of future flexibility tends to sharpen every conversation about roster building. Even with that long view in place, the more immediate intrigue is in the later rounds, where Philadelphia has a habit of finding useful pieces by leaning into fit, value and development rather than just chasing the obvious names.
A handful of under-the-radar college prospects are starting to look like the sort of players this front office could circle back to when the board thins out. Running back Jamal Roberts, cornerbacks Jamari Sharpe and Vicari Swain, edge rusher Anto Saka and tight end Andrew Rappleyea all bring traits that line up with different Eagles needs, which is exactly why they belong on the radar now. The bigger question is which of those fits becomes real when draft weekend arrives and Philadelphia starts turning its long-range planning into actual picks. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Just Sent A Troubling Message About Their Passing Game
The Eagles have already moved on from Hollywood Brown, parting ways with the veteran wide receiver by mutual consent after a brief and quiet stint in Philadelphia. Signed to a one-year deal in March, Brown never found much traction in the offense, appearing in four games and finishing with five catches for 63 yards while the team continued to shuffle pieces around its receiver room.
Browns departure adds another layer to a passing game that has been searching for consistency, even with several other wideouts still on the roster and practice squad. Because of the timing of the release, he now goes through the waiver claim process, leaving open the possibility that another team could step in before Philadelphia gets any chance to revisit the move. [Read more 🡒]