Eagles make roster cuts, plan more changes
Keep WR Darius Cooper and S Andrew Mukuba, release QB Kyle McCord
From The Reporter/MediaNews Group: https://tinyurl.com/29p2sdfa
PHILADELPHIA — At the end of cutdown day to the 53-man roster, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman had a clear message about making moves to improve the team.
“We’re not done,” Roseman said.
Roseman, alongside head coach Nick Sirianni, kept repeating that phrase as the two met with reporters at NovaCare Complex Tuesday afternoon. The hammer had just come down on 38 players ahead of the NFL roster deadline.
Some who had accrued at least four years of NFL service were released, meaning they immediately become free agents and can sign anywhere. The rest were waived, meaning other teams would have until noon Wednesday to claim them.
“We hope to get as many of them back as possible now,” Roseman said. “We’re always keeping the door open … bringing guys back who we’ve brought in here. Great group, great people, and obviously, a tough day.”
The Eagles can sign players to their practice squad, move guys up and down between the practice squad and active roster and generally get creative. After a practice squad player is elevated to the 53-man roster for three games, he must be signed to the active roster, but he can then be released and re-signed to the practice squad.
Among the notable players retained Tuesday was undrafted rookie wide receiver Darius Cooper, who excelled during camp sessions and in a pair of preseason games, hauling in a combined seven catches for 90 yards and a touchdown against the Bengals and Jets.
“I think the thing about him is he has this ability … to win one-on-one,” Sirianni said. “And I think he’s shown that through camp, that he has tools in his body to be able to win. He’s big, he’s strong, he’s quick.
“I think this guy is a really strong football player who can do some of the dirty work stuff for us as far as our blocking, as far as special teams, as far as good speed to be able to clear things out. And really when you have a guy like that, there’s opportunities for him as well in the pass game that mesh off of some of those things. I’m looking forward to watching him continue to develop.”
Rounding out the receiving corps behind A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and Jahan Dotson is John Metchie, who Roseman acquired in a trade with Houston on Aug. 17.
The battle for the second outside cornerback spot found little resolution, as the Birds kept Adoree’ Jackson, Kelee Ringo, Jakorian Bennett and Mac McWilliams. It’s a competition that could continue well into the season, barring new acquisitions.
A notable cut was quarterback Kyle McCord, a South Jersey native who played high school ball at St. Joseph’s Prep and was selected in the sixth round of April’s draft. Both Sirianni and Roseman specifically mentioned him as a guy they’d like to get back.
Of course, Roseman just made a trade for quarterback Sam Howell on Sunday. He’ll round out a talented trio with Jalen Hurts and Tanner McKee on the active roster.
McKee appeared to win the backup job during camp, not only in practices but delivering big against Cincinnati in the first preseason game (20-of-25, 252 yards and two touchdowns, plus a rushing TD) after an impressive start in Week 18 last season. He has been out of action with a thumb injury, but Roseman said that didn’t factor into the decision to acquire Howell from Minnesota.
“We would’ve made the trade for Sam Howell regardless of any situation with our first two quarterbacks,” Roseman said. “We just thought it was an opportunity to improve in the short-term at the quarterback position, which is obviously a hugely important position. For us, having those three guys as we start the season, the opportunity to have those guys with the experience that they have in that room, we just felt like it was in the best interest of the team for this season.”
Rookie Andrew Mukuba made the roster at safety, joining Reed Blankenship, Tristin McCollum and Sydney Brown.
While Zack Baun and Jihaad Campbell will be the starting inside linebackers, Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and Smael Mondon will see rotational time.
No clear punt returner has emerged. The Eagles would prefer not to use Cooper DeJean as he expands his role on defense; Dotson and Ainias Smith are possibilities. The Los Angeles Rams also waived former Eagle Britain Covey Tuesday.
The Birds cut long snapper Charley Hughlett, whom they signed in March in hopes of bringing stability for kicker Jake Elliot. They may try to re-sign Hughlett and shuffle him up and down from the practice squad.
Released: LS Charley Hughlett, OLB Patrick Johnson, OT Kendall Lamm, WR Terrace Marshall, CB Parry Nickerson, WR Avery Williams.
Waived: QB Kyle McCord, G Kenyon Green, WR Ainias Smith, S Andre Sam, CB Eli Ricks, WR Ife Adeyi, LB Chance Campbell, CB Tariq Castro-Fields (injured), WR Elijah Cooks, LB Lance Dixon, DT Joe Evans, LB Dallas Gant, S Maxen Hook, TE E.J. Jenkins, CB Brandon Johnson, RB Montrell Johnson, TE Cameron Latu, OLB Ochaun Mathis, WR Taylor Morin, TE Nick Muse, OT Hollin Pierce, RB ShunDerrick Powell, OLB Antwaun Powell-Ryland, DE Jereme Robinson, RB Keilan Robinson, DT Justin Rogers, DT Jacob Sykes, OT Laekin Vakalahi, CB A.J. Woods.
PUP list: ILB Nakobe Dean (four-game minimum)
Injured Reserve: OT Myles Hinton (designated for return, four-game minimum)
Side note on practice squad: Players on the practice squad receive a salary and full benefits, including medical, dental, vision and disability insurance, as well as access to a 401(k) plan. After accumulating three credited seasons — being on the active, inactive, injured reserve or PUP list for at least three games counts as one season — they qualify for a lifetime NFL pension.
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Follow Christiaan DeFranco on X at @the_defranc.