McGloin, Cherry among the early cuts
The Eagles pared the roster to 70 Friday, releasing among others quarterback Matt McGloin of Penn State, linebacker Don Cherry, the product of Villanova and defensive end Jake Metz of Souderton.
The Birds have 17 moves to make to reach the 53-man limit by 4 p.m. Saturday.
Let go were quarterback Dane Evans, wide receiver Rashard Davis, tight ends Anthony Denham and Adam Zaruba, center Tyler Orlosky and offensive tackle Victor Salako.
Wide receiver Paul Turner (shoulder) reached an injury settlement.
The Eagles still have their entire assortment of running backs, including rookie fourthround pick Donnel Pumphrey, who had a rough preseason.
In the preseason finale Friday, Pumphrey rushed for 10 yards on seven carries but averaged 9.6 yards on five punt returns and 26.7 yards on three kickoff returns.
“I definitely feel like I could have done a lot better rushingwise,” Pumphrey said after the game. “That’s pretty much what I’ll leave it at. That’s all I can control. Returns, they had me doing both. I definitely felt very comfortable about it. My goal coming into the game really was just ball security and I felt like I did a pretty good job of that.”
Pumphrey was evaluated for a concussion but didn’t have one.
The other cuts Friday were newly signed linebackers Carlos Fields and Christian Tago, cornerback Aaron Grymes and defensive tackles Gabe Wright and Winston Craig.
The Eagles put secondround draft pick Sidney Jones on the reserve/non-football injury list as he rehabs from a torn Achilles’ tendon.
A portion of the cuts, including Cherry, could rejoin the Eagles when the 10-man practice squad forms in a couple of days. Unless, that is, the players are claimed by other teams.
None of the cuts qualified as shocking.
Somewhat surprising is that the Eagles still have two punters, with rookie Cameron Johnston and 37-yearold veteran Donnie Jones. The Australian born Johnston demonstrated NFL skills in the preseason although he’s not nearly as consistent as Jones.
That said, if the Eagles could trade 37-year-old long snapper Jon Dorenbos, they certainly could do the same with Jones or possibly the undrafted Johnston, who was one of the highest rated punters entering the spring lottery.
McGloin played the most of any Eagles quarterback during the preseason as the Birds didn’t want to risk injury to starter Carson Wentz, and backup Nick Foles didn’t play a snap.
Foles has an inflamed flexor near his throwing elbow. Essentially it’s tennis elbow. The 28-year-old says he’s full-go for practice this week and that he expects to be able to run the scout team as the Birds prepare for their Sept. 10 regular season opener against the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field.
“It’s one of those things where you’ve got to do a lot of treatment and get it back,” Foles said Thursday. “It feels great now. I’ll continue to take precautions and be smart with it.
“I’m back and I’ll be ready to go Week One.”
Sidney Jones is unlikely to play this season as he strengthens the Achilles’ tendon he ruptured during his pro day. He was projected as a first-round draft pick before the mishap. The Eagles are gambling he’ll be able to come all the way back from the tear.
Jones won’t count against the 53-man roster unless the Eagles decide to activate him during a six-week window that begins the last week of October. He can practice during that time, enabling the Eagles to at least gauge where he is physically.
If Jones isn’t activated during that window, the Eagles must put him on injured reserve. The Eagles can bring two players back from injured reserve this season.