ClutchPoints
And then, there were 53.
After weeks of anticipation, camp battles, preseason efforts, and a few trades for good measure, the Philadelphia Eagles have settled on their initial 53-man roster, with 17 more players set to join the team in the not-too-distant future as members of the practice squad.
Now granted, just because the Eagles settled on 53 players before the NFL-required deadline doesn’t mean they are all going to stick, as Howie Roseman has already let it be known that he plans to watch the waiver wire and free agent market very closely to see if he can secure an on-field upgrade – either now or in the future – without surrendering an asset. Even with the 32nd and final spot on the waiver wire order, the Eagles still have a chance to secure any of the thousand or so players who just lost their jobs this week, presenting them with an opportunity to immediately compete for a Super Bowl mere hours after one of the worst phone calls of their lives.
And yet, while much of the Eagles’ roster was more or less set before the preseason even began, there were a few players on the margins who went one way or the other, either losing their expected spot on the roster to encouraging young players or surging with strong efforts to force Roseman’s hand.
With double-digit players selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, it was always going to be a long shot for the Eagles to find a spot for all ten players, but Roseman was able to find a way to keep eight of them, with just two, sixth-round picks Kyle McCord and Antwaun Powell-Ryland being released, and Michigan sixth-rounder Myles Hinton landing on IR with the potential to return. While McCord and APR each showcased some pop on the preseason field, neither did so consistently enough to justify a spot on a team looking to win now, with a chance for each to instead return on the practice squad if they pass through waivers.
A few other veteran but young players found themselves on the wrong side of the numbers game as well, with Eli Ricks’ spot on the 53-man roster all but eliminated due to the additions of Adoree’ Jackson, Mac McWilliams, and Jakorian Bennett in free agency, the draft, and via trade. Patrick Johnson’s strong summer wasn’t enough to beat out veteran edge rusher Ogbo Okoronkwo, even if he’s widely regarded as a quality special teamer, and despite all of the excitement, Parry Nickerson will likely start the season on the practice squad, as the 30-year-old cornerback doesn’t have to pass through waivers as a vested vet.
But the one release that genuinely came as a shock to many was the news that Ainias Smith wouldn’t be on the initial 53-man roster, with the former fifth-round pick being released a few hours before the deadline. While Smith may not be a household name and clearly didn’t do enough to guarantee his spot on...
