Eagles make final cuts for 2021 season, full 53 man roster

The Eagles came out of their third preseason game with 81 players on their roster and must be down to 53 by Tuesday’s 4:00pm ET deadline.

The means the Eagles will have a total of 28 moves to make. And they’ll have some tough decisions.

Here’s what the Eagles did.

Eagles’ moves

• Blake Countess was placed on IR. T.Y. McGill was placed on Reserve/COVID-19.
• The Eagles traded OL Matt Pryor to the Indianapolis Colts for a 2022 late-round pick swap. Pryor was likely going to be released.
• The Eagles activated Rodney McLeod off Active/PUP and Landon Dickerson off Active/NFI, which means both players will take up roster spots at final cuts.

Released as vested veterans

RB Jordan Howard (per NBC Sports Philadelphia’s John Clark): This one comes as a surprise. Howard had a decent training camp but the Eagles elected to keep just three running backs on their initial roster.

S Andrew Adams (per NBC Sports Philadelphia’s John Clark): The Eagles signed the veteran safety to a one-year veteran salary benefit deal this offseason but he still didn’t make the cut. Adams, 28, has considerable NFL experience with 73 games played and 32 starts for the New York Giants and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Since he’s a vested veteran, he’s not subject to the waiver process.

DT Hassan Ridgeway: Expectations were higher for Ridgeway coming into this summer and he was beat out for a job. Maybe injuries have taken a toll on the 26-year-old. He has played in just 19 games over the last three seasons.

TE Richard Rodgers: Rodgers will be a candidate to return in a couple weeks if the Eagles need him. He had a quiet summer.

OT Le’Raven Clark: After starting camp on the PUP list, Clark was activated in time to practice and even play in the preseason. He looked good too. But the Eagles have other options at tackle and released the veteran.

CB Kevon Seymour: After joining the Eagles late last season after injuries decimated the secondary, Seymour came into this year deep on the depth chart. His experience (33 games, 5 starts) wasn’t enough to keep him around.

Waived

WR John Hightower (per NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Dave Zangaro): The 2020 fifth-round pick played a ton early in his rookie season but then was basically a healthy scratch by the end of it. In a competitive wide receiver room, Hightower failed to stand out this summer. Still, he could be worth a practice squad spot if the Eagles want to continue to develop him.

WR Travis Fulgham (per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo): He was a star in the 2020 season but fell off fast. Fulgham put together a magical month last year under Doug Pederson and was even given a chance to earn a starting gig this summer. But now he won’t even be on the roster.

DT Raequan Williams (per NJ.com’s Mike Kaye): Williams went undrafted out of Michigan State last year but ended up playing in six games with the Eagles as a rookie. He’s a big interior linemen and the Eagles don’t have a lot of those guys, so it’s possible he sticks around if he clears waivers.

RB Jason Huntley (per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero): This was likely one of the harder cuts for the Eagles. Huntley suffered a ribs injury during camp but there was a period where he was shining daily with big runs. He’s super fast and also capability as a kick returner. If he clears waivers, a practice squad spot could be waiting for him.

CB Craig James (per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero): James is known as a special teams standout but he’s struggled to stay healthy. After playing in just four games last season, James had been dealing with a foot injury lately. He’s a definite practice squad candidate.

DE Matt Leo (per NJ.com’s Mike Kaye): Leo is part of the NFL’s International Pathway Program and had a roster exemption. Kaye reports the Eagles will keep Leo as an extra 17th member of their practice squad.

WR Andre Patton (per Fansided’s Matt Lombardo): After arriving late, Patton was seen as a camp body but had an impressive summer. His familiarity with head coach Nick Sirianni might have helped. He didn’t make the roster but he made a serious push over the last month.

OL Ross Pierschbacher (per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo): Once a fifth-round pick to Washington, Pierschbacher joined the Eagles late last season. He had an underwhelming camp and was buried on the depth chart.

CB Michael Jacquet (per NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Dave Zangaro): Jacquet came into this summer with an outside chance to earn a roster spot and had an up-and-down summer. The Eagles have invested a year in Jacquet and they really liked him as a UDFA last year so perhaps he sticks around on the practice squad. He is far from a finished product.

TE Cary Angeline: The Downingtown East product was just signed by the Eagles last week to take some reps at tight end after a serious injury to Jason Croom. He got to face the New York Jets in two joint practices and played in the preseason game.

DE JaQuan Bailey: An undrafted rookie out of Iowa State, Bailey was buried on the Eagles’ depth chart at the position.

RB Elijah Holyfield: Holyfield first joined the Eagles late in the 2019 season and then spent time in 2020 on the Eagles’ practice squad. Perhaps he’ll end up on the 16-man practice squad again.

WR Marken Michel: The Eagles claimed Michel off waivers back on August 10 for his second stint with the Eagles. The brother of running back Sony Michel, Marken Michel is a crisp route runner but has failed to carve out an NFL career after a three-year stint in the CFL from 2016-2018.

LB Rashad Smith: After going undrafted out of Florida Atlantic in 2020, Smith was with the Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys last season before joining the Eagles. He was on the practice squad last year but was elevated for one game.

53 man roster

Quarterback (3)
Joe Flacco
Jalen Hurts
Gardner Minshew

Running Back (3)
Kenneth Gainwell
Miles Sanders
Boston Scott

Wide Receiver (5)
J.J. Arcega-Whiteside
Jalen Reagor
DeVonta Smith
Greg Ward
Quez Watkins

Tight End (4)
Zach Ertz
Dallas Goedert
Tyree Jackson
Jack Stoll

Offensive Line (10)
Brandon Brooks
Landon Dickerson
Andre Dillard
Jack Driscoll
Nate Herbig
Lane Johnson
Jason Kelce
Jordan Mailata
Isaac Seumalo
Brett Toth