Training camp is about to bring the real sorting process for the Philadelphia Eagles, and there are a handful of names who could turn a quiet summer into a roster shakeup.
That’s the benefit of a deep roster, and it’s one of the reasons the Eagles are heading into camp with so much competition. General manager Howie Roseman has built a group with plenty of experience, including players who have already played and started elsewhere. That kind of depth makes the back end of the roster far less predictable than usual.
A few players who might not have seemed like serious roster candidates could force their way into the conversation once camp gets rolling.
Johnny Wilson is one of them at wide receiver. He’ll have a difficult climb with Elijah Moore and Darius Cooper in the mix for the final one or two spots.
Still, Wilson was impressive in camp before his season-ending injury last year, and he had clearly taken major steps forward as a receiver since his rookie season. If the Eagles give him the chance to show it again, he could make it count.
At linebacker, the path is open beyond Zack Baun, Jihaad Campbell, and Jeremiah Trotter Jr. Chance Campbell brings veteran experience and has shown well in preseason action before, even if he hasn’t been able to stick. With the room short on depth, this could be the opening he’s been waiting for.
Uar Bernard is a different kind of case. There has been plenty of buzz around him since the Eagles drafted him, even if many still don’t expect him to make the roster because he is still learning American football.
But a player with his kind of raw upside is hard to ignore. At more than 300 pounds, he can run a 4.6-second 40-yard dash, and if he picks things up faster than expected, he has a real shot to stick.
Elijah Mitchell also has a path, especially because he already knows new Eagles offensive coordinator Sean Mannion’s scheme from his time with the San Francisco 49ers. Will Shipley has not delivered through his first two seasons, and Dameon Pierce is a veteran who doesn’t quite fit what the Eagles are after. If Mitchell can rediscover the player who had that monster rookie season, he could end up as the team’s RB3.
Shaun Wade brings a strong résumé from the UFL, where he ranked near the top in pass deflections and interceptions. Philadelphia has spent the last year making sure the cornerback room has enough depth, and there’s even a chance the team keeps six corners. That gives Wade a real opening.
Then there’s Maximus Pulley at safety, where the whole picture feels wide open. He had a solid college career and flashed at OTAs, enough to give Eagles fans a reason to keep an eye on him once camp starts. With that position unsettled, a player few are talking about could absolutely take advantage.
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One Eagles Camp Sleeper Is Already Forcing His Way Into View
Training camp is where a roster can change quickly, and the Eagles have a handful of names worth watching before the pads even come on. Tight end DaeQuan Wright, wide receiver Danny Gray, defensive backs Maximus Pulley and Kapena Gushiken, and running back Elijah Mitchell all fit the profile of players who could make noise if their spring momentum carries into August, with each bringing a different kind of backstory and a different path toward relevance.
Wright flashed enough in college and during spring work to merit a closer look, while Gray is back in camp after a rocky turn last summer and another shot to show he belongs. Pulley, a Wofford product who was active in spring practices, has the kind of ball production that can get a young safety noticed fast, and Mitchells presence adds another layer to a crowded backfield picture. For a team that always seems to find a way to squeeze value out of the bottom of the roster, the early camp battle among these sleepers could end up being one of the more interesting subplots. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Suddenly Have A Tough Camp Decision They Can't Ignore
Training camp has a way of turning a familiar name into a real test, and Elijah Moore is finding that out with the Eagles. The veteran receiver has bounced around the league enough to know the drill, but this summer he has been trying to carve out a place in Philadelphia by showing he can fit with Jalen Hurts and add value wherever the staff needs him.
Moore is part of a crowded fight for the last openings at receiver, with Johnny Wilson and Darius Cooper also pushing for consideration. For a player on the roster bubble, the margin can come down to more than just catches in camp, and the Eagles will have to decide whether Moores growing comfort with Hurts is enough to separate him from the rest of the pack. [Read more 🡒]