August 30, 2022
Colleen Claggett/PhillyVoice
Eagles QB Jalen Hurts during the team's open practice at the Linc on August 7.
The Philadelphia Eagles' initial 53-man roster is set. Let's just get right to who made the team, and what might be next.
Quarterback (2): Jalen Hurts, Gardner Minshew
The Eagles' 2022 season will be squarely on the shoulders of Hurts, who has excellent personnel around him and coaching staff continuity. Minshew is a solid QB2 who can win should Hurts go down for a few games, especially against a weak schedule.
The Eagles like riding with three quarterbacks, but Reid Sinnett played his way out of a job. Expect Sinnett to join the practice squad, but also for the Eagles to explore other QB3 opportunities as the season approaches.
Running back (3): Miles Sanders, Kenny Gainwell, Boston Scott
There are plenty of question marks at running back, with Sanders' durability and Gainwell's consistency. Might the Eagles add another someone before the start of the season? A power back would make some sense.
Wide receiver (5): DeVonta Smith, A.J. Brown, Quez Watkins, Zach Pascal, Jalen Reagor
The Eagles were unable to trade Reagor, but that doesn't mean that they still can't/won't. In 2016, the Eagles traded Eric Rowe after final cuts, when they proved they were willing to keep him over cutting him.
Reagor aside, Smith and Brown are a top NFL duo, while Watkins and Pascal should form a compelling tandem in the slot.
Tight end (3): Dallas Goedert, Grant Calcaterra, Jack Stoll
Noah Togiai had a solid camp, but the younger Stoll and Calcaterra won jobs. Stoll and Calcaterra will like be co-TE2s, with Goedert poised to have a breakout season.
Offensive line (10): Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson, Jason Kelce, Isaac Seumalo, Lane Johnson, Andre Dillard, Cam Jurgens, Jack Driscoll, Sua Opeta, Josh Sills
This is arguably the best offensive line in the NFL, with an outstanding starting five, and plenty of depth behind them.
Most prognosticators had the Eagles keeping 10 offensive linemen, but I don't think anybody had the undrafted rookie, Josh Sills. He was the biggest surprise among all players to make the initial 53.
Edge defenders (4): Brandon Graham, Josh Sweat, Derek Barnett, Tarron Jackson
This was by far the easiest positional group to predict all summer long.
Interior defensive line (5): Javon Hargrave, Fletcher Cox, Jordan Davis, Milton Williams, Marlon Tuipulotu
Marvin Wilson had a good camp, but there just wasn't enough room for a sixth interior defensive lineman. Tuipulotu entered camp on the bubble, but he was one of the most improved players on the team.
Overall, this is a very deep and talented group with a nice mix of youth, experience, and varying skill sets.
SAM (3): Haason Reddick, Patrick Johnson, Kyron Johnson
The Eagles simply couldn't expect positive results from this position a year ago when Genard Avery was the No. 1 SAM. Now they have an explosive speed rusher in Reddick, and a couple of promising young late picks in the two Johnsons.
Linebacker (5): T.J. Edwards, Kyzir White, Nakobe Dean, Shaun Bradley, Davion Taylor
Taylor's roster spot became dicey after some very shaky preseason performances, but he's in. The rest were locks.
Edwards is simply a good football player, even if not an elite athlete, while White had a strong camp and should be a significant upgrade over Alex Singleton.
Cornerback (6): Darius Slay, James Bradberry, Avonte Maddox, Zech McPhearson, Josiah Scott, Josh Jobe
The trio of Slay, Bradberry, and Maddox is one of the Eagles' best in years. McPhearson is the CB4, with Jobe cracking the roster as an undrafted rookie. Scott should play some safety in addition to slot corner.
Safety (4): Marcus Epps, Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, K'Von Wallace, Reed Blankenship
Howie Roseman made a huge, surprise trade on cutdown day when he acquired Gardner-Johnson for a very reasonable cost, and released Anthony Harris. Gardner-Johnson will start alongside Epps.
Blankenship makes three undrafted rookies to make the team.
Specialists (3): Jake Elliott, Arryn Siposs, Rick Lovato
The only question here was whether Siposs would survive, and barring any surprises post-cuts, it appears he will.
PUP (2): TE Tyree Jackson, OL Brett Toth
Jackson and Toth will miss at least the first four games of the regular season.
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