Now that the Philadelphia Eagles’ preseason schedule is over, the team’s focus shifts to cutting their roster down to the regular season 53-player limit before the 6:00 PM Eastern deadline on Sunday, August 30. Here’s our best effort at projecting what the INITIAL roster is going to look like. The Birds will likely make some tweaks (injured reserve placements, trades, waiver claims, etc.) before they actually play the Washington Commanders in Week 1. Note that this activity is about predicting what the Eagles WILL
do as opposed to what we necessarily think they should do.
OFFENSE
QUARTERBACK: Jalen Hurts, Tanner McKee, Cole Payton (3) [3]
Hurts threw a lot of interceptions this summer, yes, but I challenge you to find a daily practice observer who feels like he had a bad camp. On the whole, the good outweighed the bad. It seems like he’s embracing the new offensive direction. The Eagles are hoping Hurts doesn’t get, well, hurt … because the depth behind him is very uninspiring. There was no clear winner from the Eagles’ training camp backup quarterback battle. McKee somehow looked worse than ever after previously showing encouraging signs in previous years. Dalton looks somewhat physically diminished, which tracks for a quarterback entering his age 39 season. Maybe he gets traded … but what price is he even fetching at this point? I wonder if the Eagles might trade both Dalton (for very meager draft pick compensation) AND McKee (included in a deal for another team’s quarterback, such as Anthony Richardson or J.J. McCarthy)? Payton has shown some promise but the Eagles didn’t really do a good job of getting him more action in the preseason. Utilizing him on special teams in the final preseason game points to them trying to find a role for him. This is a tough position to figure out.
OUT: Andy Dalton
RUNNING BACK: Saquon Barkley, Tank Bigsby, Will Shipley (3) [6]
Barkley looks poised for another big season and he might actually be involved as a pass-catcher more than ever this year, no, for real, I mean it this time?! Bigsby’s role is obviously limited with Barkley blocking his path to playing time but he’s simply too good to be a total afterthought in this offense. Shipley finished training camp strong and did enough to earn his RB3 role, which was evident by the team resting him in the third preseason game. Carson Steele was basically the entire Eagles’ passing offense in the preseason but I don’t think they need to keep him on the roster; he spent all of last year on the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice squad. Dameon Pierce looked good early in camp, got hurt and missed a lot of time, and then looked good upon returning … before maybe getting banged up again? Steele and/or Pierce will be on the practice squad. Jordan Mims was recently added to the roster to help fill practice reps/preseason snaps.
OUT: Carson Steele, Dameon Pierce, Jordan Mims
WIDE RECEIVER: DeVonta Smith, Dontayvion Wicks, Makai Lemon, Hollywood Brown, Darius Cooper, Elijah Moore (6) [12]
As the Eagles’ undisputed top receiving option, Smitty is going to have his first career Pro Bowl season. There’s every reason to believe in him. In a more perfect world, Wicks might ideally be WR3 … but he’s clearly WR2 in this configuration. Hurts was not scared to throw to him over and over while Smitty and Lemon missed most of camp. Lemon doesn’t look ready to be a starting receiver in Week 1 after missing most of the Eagles’ offseason practices but it seems like they’re going to try to make it work anyway. Brown didn’t have a great summer and Hurts threw a number of interceptions when the ball went his way … but his guaranteed money signals the Eagles holding onto him, unless he exits in a trade. The Eagles do seem to value Brown’s deep threat ability. Cooper proved that he deserves playing time on offense but it remains to be seen if the Eagles will actually give it to him. Moore is firmly on the bubble and I could see the Eagles cutting him since he’s a vested veteran who could be brought back on the practice squad. But the coaching staff has spoken favorably of Moore and he’s had a good summer and Hurts has thrown to him a lot. Plus, with Lemon looking a bit shaky, the Eagles could afford to go heavier here. Britain Covey is a contender to be temporarily elevated from the practice squad to help out at punt returner.
OUT: Britain Covey, Quez Watkins, Danny Gray, Samori Toure, Erik Ezukanma, Tahj Washington
IR: Johnny Wilson
TIGHT END: Dallas Goedert, Johnny Mundt, Grant Calcaterra, Cameron Latu (4) [16]
Goedert is the Eagles’ top tight end, which is fine-to-good. The depth behind him is not great. Mundt has built a reputation as much more of a blocker than a pass-catcher. He’s consistently been TE2 in the Eagles’ 12 personnel packages. Calcaterra is currently dealing with a back injury and the severity is unclear. I wouldn’t keep him and I know Eagles fans won’t want to see him on the roster. But I think the team likes him more than you do. Latu is a special teams standout. E.J. Jenkins and/or Stone Smartt are practice squad considerations. I have Eli Stowers, who is currently dealing with a hamstring injury, beginning the season on injured reserve/designated to return. He’ll be required to miss four games before being eligible to return. Using this mechanism also avoids the likelihood of him being a healthy scratch, at least early in the season. Stowers showed nothing this offseason to suggest that he’s ready to significantly contribute in 2026.
OUT: E.J. Jenkins, Stone Smartt
IR (DESIGNATED FOR RETURN): Eli Stowers
OFFENSIVE LINE: Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurgens, Tyler Steen, Lane Johnson, Markel Bell, Drew Kendall, Willie Lampkin, Micah Morris, Cameron Williams (10) [26]
The starting offensive line is set. Dickerson appears to be less than 100% physically, which is something to monitor this season. By contrast, Jurgens looks healthier than he did in 2025. Steen looks like he’s better than he was last year. Johnson is entering his final NFL season, according to him (though there’s plenty of time for him to change his mind). Bell is currently banged up and the severity of his injury is unclear, so, maybe the Eagles need to keep Fred Johnson. But we have Big Fred off because he’s had a bad summer and he could be brought back on the practice squad; we’ve already seen that the league doesn’t really value him. Also, Bell has looked good and deserves to be the swing tackle. Kendall has emerged as this year’s Brett Toth, meaning that he’s poised to be the top interior backup. Lampkin earned his roster spot by having an impressive offseason; he could be active as the eight offensive lineman on game day. Morris showed developmental potential and the Eagles might not be ready to give up on the 22-year-old Williams. Jake Majors is a strong practice squad contender and John Ojukwu might return in that capacity as well. Myles Hinton played his way out of practice squad contention and Jeff Stoutland, who seemed to be high on him, is no longer around. The Eagles don’t need Michael Jordan now that the Sixers have LeBron James.
OUT: Fred Johnson, Michael Jordan, Jake Majors, John Ojukwu, Myles Hinton, Zeke Correll
DEFENSE
EDGE RUSHER: Jonathan Greenard, Jalyx Hunt, Nolan Smith, A.J. Epenesa, Arnold Ebiketie, Josh Weru (6) [32]
There’s concern that Greenard won’t be ready for Week 1 but the Eagles might have hope he can at least return by Week 4, which would justify not having him begin the season on the reserve/PUP list. But I wouldn’t fault the team for keeping him on PUP in an effort not to rush him back and instead try their best to get him right. Hunt was the star of the summer for the Eagles; he looks ready to make yet another big leap in his development this season. With Hunt stealing the spotlight, Smith is being slept on. That’s a mistake. Epenesa has looked like the player who the Cleveland Browns originally signed to $5 million before then backing out of his deal due to a failed physical. Going to be a good rotational player, as will Ebiketie. Weru showed enough promise this summer to where the Eagles shouldn’t risk exposing him to waivers. Weru will likely be a healthy scratch but he might be able to play on special teams at some point as a rookie. Keyshawn James-Newby missed most of camp but showed some potential after returning to justify being on the practice squad. Jose Ramirez was probably the Eagles’ best player who had zero chance of making the roster.
OUT: Keyshawn James-Newby, Jose Ramirez, Tarron Jackson
DEFENSIVE TACKLE: Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Moro Ojomo, Byron Young, Ty Robinson (5) [37]
Carter looks healthy and ready to dominate after being paid to do so. The Eagles are banking on the idea that his best football is to come, as they are with Davis as well. Ojomo is going to have a big year before being rewarded handsomely by a new team in free agency next March. Fangio likes Young as a depth defensive tackle. Robinson overcame a bad start to camp to earn his roster spot. Fangio said Robinson still needs to prove himself against starting caliber players, so, I’m not sure that he’s overtaking Young just yet. Would the Eagles really risk losing Uar Bernard? Maybe not. But I struggle to see another team claiming him when he’s just not ready to play football anytime soon. His international exemption status prevents him from counting against the practice squad limit if he doesn’t make the roster. Zion Wilson is a good practice squad project to work on. Gabe Hall was a tough cut.
OUT: Uar Bernard, Zion Wilson, Gabe Hall, David Blay
OFF-BALL LINEBACKER: Zack Baun, Jihaad Campbell, Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Smael Mondon Jr., Chance Campbell (5) [42]
Baun is a stud. The Eagles are hoping that Campbell, who certainly has potential, will also be a stud. Trot Jr. looks like he could start for other teams, so, he’s a good top backup option to have around. Mondon Jr. offers more depth and special teams ability. Fangio told us to put Chance Campbell on the roster, so, here I am doing that. I might regret not including Deontae Lawson but it’s not like the Eagles gave him a big UDFA signing bonus and other teams still might be scared off by the medical history that contributed to him going undrafted.
OUT: Deontae Lawson, Brandon George
CORNERBACK: Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, Riq Woolen, Jonathan Jones, Kelee Ringo, Mac McWilliams (6) [48]
The Eagles could have the best starting cornerback trio in the NFL. No reason to believe Mitchell and DeJean can’t be All-Pro caliber again this year. Woolen will likely have some high highs and low lows this season with the good ultimately outweighing the bad. We saw his volatility in training camp. Jones is a tough call as a bubble player because he missed a lot of camp due to injury and he’s a vested veteran who could be brought back. But the Eagles could afford to hold on to some much-needed corner depth and he offers inside-out versatility. Fangio doesn’t seem ready to give up on Ringo, who can at least help out on special teams. McWilliams was better in practice than in preseason games but the Eagles could keep him on the initial roster before potentially looking for an upgrade.
OUT: Jakorian Bennett, Ambry Thomas, Shaun Wade, Isaiah Bolden, Kapena Gushiken
SAFETY: Andrew Mukuba, Marcus Epps, Michael Carter II (3) [51]
Mukuba’s ceiling remains to be seen but I’m not uncomfortable with his floor. Epps is a cromulent starting safety in the NFL, especially since he won’t even be taking 100% of the snaps at safety with DeJean playing there in base defense. MC2 offers depth at both safety and nickel corner.
OUT: Cole Wisniewski, Maximus Pulley, Jaylen Mahoney
IR: Andre’ Sam
SPECIAL TEAMS
KICKER: Jake Elliott (1) [52]
Elliott had a good summer. We’ll see if it carries over into the regular season, which wasn’t the case last year.
PUNTER: Braden Mann (1) [53]
Mann is a perfectly capable punter.
LONG SNAPPER: None
I’m not projecting the Eagles to go without a long snapper this season. I’m merely projecting them to not carry one on the initial roster. Undrafted rookie Rocco Underwood is subject to waivers but I don’t think the Eagles need to worry about losing him. Even if they do, there are other teams with multiple long snappers and the Eagles can find a new one. They might prefer to do so anyway.
OUT: Rocco Underwood
INJURY DESIGNATIONS
INJURED RESERVE (IR): S Andre’ Sam, WR Johnny Wilson, RB Ja’Quinden Jackson, CB Tariq Castro-Fields
Sam was carted off the field during the Eagles’ preseason finale; seems like he suffered a serious injury. Wilson was already placed on injured reserve, ruling him out for the 2026 season. Jackson and TCF might be released from IR once they get healthy.
INJURED RESERVE (DESIGNATED FOR RETURN): TE Eli Stowers
The Eagles can use up to two of these designations that allow the team to avoid exposing these players to waivers while also keeping them eligible to play in 2026 after missing four games.
NON-FOOTBALL INJURY LIST: S Tucker Large
The Eagles placed Large on NFI back in May. He’ll miss this season.
PRACTICE SQUAD
RB Carson Steele, RB Dameon Pierce, WR Britain Covey, WR Quez Watkins, WR Danny Gray, TE E.J. Jenkins, TE Stone Smartt, OL Jake Majors, OT John Ojukwu, EDGE Keyshawn James-Newby, DT Gabe Hall, DT Zion Wilson, LB Deontae Lawson, DB Kapena Gushiken, S Cole Wisniewski, S Maximus Pulley
International exemption: DT Uar Bernard
