August 26, 2024

Eagles 'cut down to 53' tracker

Stay updated as the Eagles cut players on the way to shaping their 53-man roster.

By Jimmy Kempski
PhillyVoice Staff

Jimmy Kempski/for PhillyVoice

Nick Sirianni and Howie Roseman before the Eagles' first 2024 training camp practice.

The Philadelphia Eagles (and the rest of the NFL's teams, for that matter) have to cut down to 53 players by 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday. As reports of cuts trickle in, we'll update them here.

• OL Max Scharping, per Aaron Wilson. Scharping has played in 79 games (33 starts) over a five-year NFL career. He was one of several experienced veteran offensive linemen that the Eagles tried out this summer, along with Nick Gates and Matt Hennessy. Scharping played tackle, guard, and even some center during training camp.

• WR Austin Watkins, per Andrew DiCecco. Watkins has good size and he made a few nice plays during camp, but was never a real threat to make the roster. He has bounced around the NFL, CFL, and USFL.

• WR Griffin Hebert, per DiCecco. Hebert had a 35-yard catch-and-run on an off-target throw from Tanner McKee during the final preseason game, and three catches overall. He was a late addition to the training camp roster.

• DE Tarron Jackson, per DiCecco. Jackson was an Eagles sixth-round pick in 2021. He appeared in all 17 games as a rookie, both on special teams an in the regular defense. He finished the 2021 season with 18 tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble. His progress stalled in 2022, when he only appeared in 4 games all season, playing just 27 defensive snaps. In 2023, he failed to stand out in training camp and did not make the 53-man roster, but was brought back to the practice squad. In 2024, once again he did not make the initial 53, and may not be brought back to the practice squad.

• S Andre' Sam, per DiCecco. Sam is a 25-year-old undrafted rookie who played at three different colleges (McNeese State, Marshall, and LSU). He had a pretty good camp for a player considered a longshot at the start of the summer. The Eagles will very likely look to bring him back to the practice squad.

• TE Kevin Foelsch, per DiCecco. Foelsch was an in-camp waiver claim after the Eagles suffered some injuries at tight end.

• WR Ainias Smith seems to be headed to injured reserve in the near future. Howie Roseman or an Eagles PR rep had Ian Rapoport tweet the following:

#Eagles rookie WR Ainias Smith reported discomfort in his ankle and hamstring after completing Saturday’s game, sources say. The fifth-rounder is getting an MRI and his availability for the start of the season is in some doubt.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 26, 2024

The NFL is allowing two IR-DFR (designated for return) designations before 53-man cutdowns for the first time this season. Previously, players could not go on IR until after 53-man cutdowns. The Eagles seem to be making quick use of that new rule.

• CB Parry Nickerson, per DiCecco. Nickerson played for Vic Fangio in Miami last season, so he could make some sense as a practice squad guy, ready to be called up if needed.

• CB Shon Stephens, per DiCecco. Stephens had a long pick-six in a practice, and played well for a guy who tried out in the spring and got a camp invite.

• QB Will Grier, per an announcement from the Eagles. Grier played for Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore for two years in Dallas, and for about a month in Los Angeles with the Chargers last season. His knowledge of Moore's system and ability to help the other quarterbacks on the roster could earn him a spot on the practice squad.

• EDGE Julian Okwara, per the Eagles. Okwara was a Lions high third-round pick (67th overall) in 2020, who showed promise early in his career, but later stalled.

• OG Jason Poe, per DiCecco. Short and wide, Poe was waived at one point during camp and brought back.

• CB Zech McPhearson, per McPhearson's social media. Timing never worked out for McPhearson, who would have been the first outside CB reserve up had a starter gone down in 2021 or 2022, but the Eagles stayed healthy at outside CB those seasons. In 2023, the Eagles did suffer a bunch of injuries at CB, but McPhearson had already torn his Achilles during camp. He did at least carve out a role on special teams, when healthy.

• RB Lew Nichols, per DiCecco. Nichols was probably RB6 behind Saqquon Barkley, Kenny Gainwell, Will Shipley, Tyrion Davis-Price, and Kendall Milton.

• WR John Ross, per Josina Anderson. Ross still has speed, but he did not make enough plays to warrant a roster spot, and a concussion suffered again the Patriots in the second preseason game ended any chance he had of making the team.

• TE E.J. Jenkins, per DiCecco. Jenkins is 6’7, and he made some plays throughout camp, but he also had a few slip through his hands in the preseason games. He’s worth further development on the practice squad.

• WR Ainias Smith is indeed headed to IR. Story here.

• WR Parris Campbell, per Jeff McLane. Campbell failed to stand out during training camp practices, and a groin injury caused him to miss some time. When the Eagles traded for Jahan Dotson, Campbell's fate was sealed.

• TE Albert Okwuegbunam is headed to IR, per McLane. Story here.

• OL Brett Toth, per DiCecco. Toth is an interesting case. He isn't super talented by NFL standards, but Jeff Stoutland likes him, likely for his intelligence, versatility, and ability to make line calls. He is a vested veteran and thus not subject to waivers. He has been on the Eagles' roster in some form or fashion every year since 2019, so there is a long relationship there. My bet is that the Eagles will bring Toth back to the practice squad, and he'll be a Week 1 callup against the Packers as the backup center.

• S James Bradberry will reportedly survive cuts, per McLane, with the following explanation:

Hearing that James Bradberry is likely to survive today’s cuts.#Eagles spoke to some teams about a possible trade, including the Titans, who have former #Eagles DBs coach and Bradberry fan Dennard Wilson, NFL sources said.

But Bradberry’s transition to safety has been slow and…
— Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) August 27, 2024

It is possible that Howie Roseman is willing to keep Bradberry on some sort of hope that they will prove to other teams around the league that they actually want him, thus coaxing a trade instead of letting him go for nothing. But it's probably more likely that they eventually just let him go for nothing. Because, I mean, why keep this bad player on the roster?