The Eagles played their first preseason game on Thursday night, and is the case for each preseason game, some players helped their chances of making the roster and others moved closer to being released.
Here is an updated 53-man roster prediction after the team’s game against the Steelers:
QB (2): Jalen Hurts, Joe Flacco
Both Hurts and Flacco looks good on Thursday night and the team should feel comfortable going into the season with them as the only quarterbacks on the roster. The Eagles have no reason to keep three quarterbacks. They will cut Nick Mullens, see if they can get him through waivers and then add him to the practice squad. If not, they’ll sign someone else.
RB (4): Miles Sanders, Boston Scott, Kenneth Gainwell, Jason Huntley
Miles Sanders didn’t play on Thursday night and the first running back to carry the ball was Jordan Howard. Could Howard actually make the team? I’m starting to think he will, but not over Huntley — over Johnson. Johnson hasn’t been getting any work with the starters and didn’t look good on Thursday night. Huntley looked good in the kick returns he had, and when he was in with the offense, he looked quick with the ball in his hands.
WR (5): DeVonta Smith, Jalen Reagor, Greg Ward, Quez Watkins, Travis Fulgham
Only wide receiver helped their stock on Thursday night and that was Quez Watkins, who could be in line to start in Week 1. Outside of that, however, there wasn’t much to take from Reagor, Arcega-Whiteside or Fulgham’s performances. Arcega-Whiteside was on the field in the fourth quarter with a bunch of players who have no shot of making the roster — and at this point, you have to wonder if he will make it through final cut. My current guess is that, with the emergence of Tyree Jackson, he does not.
TE (3): Zach Ertz, Dallas Goedert, Tyree Jackson
The Eagles continue to insist Zach Ertz will be on the roster. I’m starting to believe them. Ertz has been heavily involved in the offense throughout camp and was on the field for the first snap Thursday night. It is also looking like the team will have to keep Tyree Jackson on the roster, as he had a strong showing against the Steelers. The chances of Richard Rodgers being picked up on waivers are slim, so the team can cut him and either add him to the practice squad or sign him after Week 1.
OL (10): Lane Johnson, Brandon Brooks, Jason Kelce, Isaac Seumalo, Jordan Mailata, Andre Dillard, Jack Driscoll, Sua Opeta, Matt Pryor, Nate Herbig
So far in camp it seems like Herbig and Pryor are the top two backup offensive linemen, as they were getting the first-team reps when Issac Seumalo and Brandon Brooks were sidelined due to injury. Sua Opeta, however, started on Thursday night. The Eagles are going to go heavy along the offensive line as they try to hold onto as many young players as they can to develop for when their veteran starters eventually move on.
DT (5): Fletcher Cox, Javon Hargrave, Marlon Tuipulotu, T.Y. McGill, Milton Williams
I have Williams listed as a DT because of his ability to slide inside, but he could easily be with the defensive ends as well. Either way, Williams had a strong game on Thursday night and is going to be in the rotation in Week 1. McGill also had a solid game on Thursday night, and although he could easily make it through waivers, might be kept as a veteran depth piece for Week 1.
DE (4): Brandon Graham, Derek Barnett, Ryan Kerrigan, Josh Sweat
The first four players at defensive end are locks. Williams — listed as a defensive tackle — is a lock as well to play some snaps at end. The question is whether Tarron Jackson shows enough during the preseason games to earn a roster spot. Thursday wasn’t a good start for the rookie, who made one nice play against the run, but didn’t stand out otherwise. The Eagles won’t want to cut a defensive end they drafted, especially with none of the top four ends a lock to be on the team in 2022.
LB (6): Eric Wilson, Alex Singleton, TJ Edwards, Davion Taylor, Shaun Bradley, Genard Avery
The Eagles keeping six linebackers seems like a lot — but they might for two reasons. First, they aren’t going to cut Wilson, Singleton or Taylor. Edwards, who has had a strong camp, is also close to a lock and was with the first-team defense on Thursday night. The Eagles have been using Avery a lot with the first-team defense in a stand-up pass rusher role, and it seems either him or Joe Ostman will be making the team. Avery gets the spot for now but it wouldn’t be surprising at all if Ostman found his way onto the roster.
The surprise cut here could be Shaun Bradley, but we’ll keep him on the roster for now. Look for JaCoby Stevens to be stashed away on the injured reserve this season.
CB (6): Darius Slay, Steven Nelson, Avonte Maddox, Zech McPhearson, Josiah Scott, Michael Jacquett
The Eagles plan at cornerback seems to be coming into focus now after an offseason of wondering what they were going to do. Slay and Nelson will start on the outside. Jacquett and McPhearson will be the top backups, which was the case on Thursday night. Maddox will start in the slot and Scott will be the top backup. It is possible Craig James makes his way onto the roster as a top outside backup and special-teams ace, but for now, he is the last cut at the position.
S (5): Anthony Harris, Marcus Epps, K’Von Wallace, Rodney McLeod, Elijah Riley
McLeod hasn’t practiced yet but he seems to be on track to play in Week 1, and at the very least, won’t be starting the season on the PUP. The Eagles could keep five safeties if they have concern about McLeod’s ability to play meaningful snaps in Week 1. If they do, look for Marcus Epps — who started on Thursday night — to make the roster.
ST (3): Jake Elliott, Arryn Siposs, Rick Lovato
The last few years this has been one of the easiest positions on the roster to project. With Cameron Johnston gone, however, that is no longer the case. These jobs will be decided during the preseason games. If either Elliott or Siposs looks shaky the Eagles will be quick to bring in competition for either one, but both kicked well on Thursday night.
PUP: Landon Dickerson, Le’Raven Clark
You can reach Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com!