The Eagles’ roster cutdown is underway, and the first wave has already started to clear out some familiar names as Philadelphia works toward its initial 53-man group.
The team has until 6 p.m. Sunday to get the roster trimmed from 91 to 53, with the official announcements and final cuts expected shortly after that deadline. Less than a day after wrapping up the preseason against the Cincinnati Bengals, the Eagles began moving on from a handful of bubble players, including some who had a real shot to stick.
Among the early cuts was WR Cayden Steele, who made a strong push during the preseason. He finished as Philadelphia’s most productive receiver in exhibition play, catching 14 passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns, with 128 of those yards coming after the catch.
The Eagles were searching for a fullback option, but that job now appears to be trending toward Cameron Latu, while Steele falls short of the 53. With Eli Stowers dealing with a hamstring injury and not ready for Week 1, Latu’s value may come through at tight end, where the Eagles need help.
At defensive tackle, Byerson Hall was squeezed out by the numbers. Hall had a solid preseason and even made the initial 53-man roster before, but Ty Robinson’s strong late-camp push made the path tougher. Hall posted four pressures and a quarterback hit this preseason, and he looks like a practice squad candidate if he clears waivers.
Safety Andre Wisniewski was undone by injuries. A hamstring issue cost him most of camp, and he also missed plenty of OTAs and spring work because of the same problem. The Eagles gave him a look at safety when he was healthy, but a concussion after the second preseason game pushed him out of the mix for the final safety job, assuming Philadelphia keeps four there.
Another defensive back, Lewis Pulley, also got caught in the roster squeeze. The undrafted free agent earned a real look after a strong summer, and while he didn’t have the kind of impact Reed Blankenship has made, the Eagles clearly have something to work with. Pulley is a strong practice squad possibility, especially given how often his ability to track the football showed up during camp.
Defensive tackle Myles Wilson, one of Philadelphia’s higher-paid undrafted free agent signings in June, also appears headed for the practice squad. He logged two quarterback hits and four pressures in the preseason and flashed with an inside move that repeatedly got him into the backfield, but the Eagles were already set at tackle on the 53.
Cornerback Eli Thomas struggled to keep his spot alive. He gave up a 103.9 passer rating in coverage as the primary defender, was targeted often, and allowed 151 passing yards and a touchdown. A long touchdown surrendered in the second preseason game hurt him badly, and even though he spent last year on the practice squad, a return would be a surprise.
Tackle Myles Hinton also found himself on the outside looking in after the Eagles tried to move him to guard before shifting him back. The 2025 fifth-round pick was buried on the depth chart and didn’t see much action until late in preseason games.
Running back C.J. Mims, signed this week for extra depth, was never a real threat to make the team and mainly served as roster depth for the final preseason game. Wide receiver Terrace Marshall Jr. was in the same category, finishing with two catches for 13 yards while playing late in games.
And at edge rusher, former seventh-round pick Patrick Johnson was another name on the move. He signed earlier this month, but the Eagles were already set at pass rusher. If Philadelphia carries six there, Joshua Weru is expected to claim that final spot.
In Other News...
Eagles Linebacker Cut Reveals How Little Room Is Left
Brandon Georges short stay in Philadelphia ended with the Eagles releasing the second-year linebacker after a preseason in which he appeared in all three games. Signed on Aug. 14, George had arrived as a developmental add after spending his rookie season on injured reserve with the Kansas City Chiefs, but he now moves onto waivers as the roster math around him gets tighter.
The move is another sign of how little breathing room remains at linebacker as the Eagles sort out the back end of the roster. Philadelphia is weighing whether to keep four linebackers on the active roster, and there is still a path for George to return via the practice squad if he clears waivers, though he is not viewed as a likely claim. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Just Made A Tough Call On Their Edge Rush Depth
Training camp has already asked the Eagles to make a few hard roster decisions, and rookie edge rusher Keyshawn James-Newby is the latest name caught up in the numbers game. James-Newby missed most of camp with an ankle injury, then turned in a strong showing in the preseason finale, enough to keep him on the radar even as Philadelphia moved on by waiving him.
The Eagles are expected to try to bring him back on the practice squad, which would keep a developmental pass rusher in the building without costing a spot on the 53-man roster. Philadelphia also waived seventh-round safety Cole Wisniewski and hopes to re-sign him to the practice squad if he clears waivers, a reminder that the back end of the roster is often less about final judgments than about finding a way to keep promising young players nearby. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Just Made Their Thin Tight End Situation Even More Concerning
The Eagles have already spent much of camp sorting through a tight end room that felt a little light on proven depth, and the decision to release Stone Smartt only adds another layer to that concern. Smartt had been brought in on a one-year deal this offseason after stops with the Jets and Chargers, but he is now out of the picture for the time being as Philadelphia keeps reshuffling the group behind Dallas Goedert.
Johnny Mundt and Eli Stowers remain among the top projected options with Goedert, but the move underscores how much the Eagles are still trying to settle at the position. Smartt could still end up back with the team on the practice squad, which would give Philadelphia a little more flexibility, but for now the room looks even thinner than it did when camp began. [Read more 🡒]