The Eagles have moved on from rookie edge rusher Keyshawn James-Newby, waiving the seventh-round pick after a summer in which he showed enough to keep his name in the mix.
Multiple reports said Philadelphia released James-Newby, even after he turned in a strong week of practices and followed that up with a productive showing in the preseason finale against the Cincinnati Bengals on Friday night at Lincoln Financial Field. In that game, his only preseason appearance of the summer, he logged 2 tackles, a sack and a quarterback hit.
The release still makes sense on paper. James-Newby missed most of training camp because of an ankle injury, and that put him in a tough spot when it came to cracking the Eagles’ 53-man roster. Philadelphia drafted him in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft, and the team will likely try to bring him back on the practice squad.
His departure also points toward Joshua Weru sticking around. The Kenyan native, who is new to football, has flashed major upside throughout the summer and finished with a sack in the Patriots’ preseason game.
James-Newby’s final college season at New Mexico ended with 9 sacks, and his summer in Philadelphia showed why the Eagles were interested in the first place. He’s not the only 2026 draft pick on the way out, either. NJ.com reported Saturday that the Eagles waived seventh-round safety Cole Wisniewski and hope to re-sign him to the practice squad if he clears waivers.
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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 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 🡒]
Eagles Could Find Sneaky Roster Help In Early Cutdown Chaos
The roster churn that follows NFL cutdown day always creates a second market, and the Eagles are already combing through it for help. After trimming other teams depth charts, Philadelphia can look at players who suddenly become available and decide whether any of them make sense for the 53-man roster or the practice squad, especially with the front office always trying to find value before the season settles in.
A few names could draw a closer look, including Elijah Cooks, Kyon Barrs, Adrian Martinez and Tra Fluellen. Each comes with a different background and a different possible fit, which is the appeal for a team that likes to keep options open at the margins. None of it is settled yet, of course, because any interest depends on how the Eagles finish shaping their own roster first. [Read more 🡒]