The Philadelphia Eagles’ preseason is officially in the rearview mirror, and now the real pressure is on. The Birds have until Sunday, August 30, at 6:00 PM Eastern, to chop their roster down to the regular season’s 53-player limit. It’s not just about who’s in, though; there will be tweaks, trades, and waiver claims flying around before they even sniff Week 1 against the Washington Commanders.
The QB Depth Is Seriously Uninspiring
Let’s be real, the quarterback situation behind Jalen Hurts is giving everyone heartburn. Hurts might have thrown a lot of interceptions this summer, sure, but if you were actually at practice, you’d know the good stuff totally outweighed the bad. He’s embracing the new offensive direction, and that’s huge. The problem is if he gets hurt, because the depth is, and I quote, “very uninspiring.” There was no clear winner in that backup QB battle. Tanner McKee, who’d shown some flashes before, somehow looked worse than ever. And Andy Dalton? Dude looks physically diminished, which isn’t shocking for a guy hitting 39, but it’s still rough. You gotta wonder if the Eagles can even trade Dalton for a meager draft pick at this point. And what about McKee? Could he be included in a deal for another team’s QB, like an Anthony Richardson or a J.J. McCarthy? Cole Payton showed a glimmer of promise, but honestly, the team didn’t give him enough preseason reps. Playing him on special teams in the final game just screams they’re trying to force a role for him. This whole spot is a mess to figure out.
Barkley Leads the Backfield, Others Battle for Scraps
On the running back front, Saquon Barkley looks absolutely locked and loaded for another monster season. And this time, it actually sounds like they’re serious about getting him more involved in the passing game! Tank Bigsby, despite Barkley being right in his path, is just too good to be an afterthought in this offense, even if his playing time is limited. Will Shipley, though, he finished camp strong and absolutely earned his RB3 role, no doubt about it; resting him in the third preseason game was all the proof you needed. Carson Steele basically carried the Eagles’ passing offense in the preseason, but it sounds like he won’t make the cut, especially after spending last year on the Chiefs’ practice squad. Dameon Pierce had a weird camp, looking good early, getting hurt, looking good again, and then maybe getting banged up one more time. It’s a tough spot for those guys on the bubble.
The clock is ticking for these roster decisions, with the deadline hitting fast. Every cut and every trade will be scrutinized. What this initial roster looks like will give us a huge clue about what they’re truly building towards when they face off against the Washington Commanders in Week 1.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleeding Green Nation.
Leave a Reply