Eagles move on from Mathews

Oft-injured RB’s release saves $4M in salary-cap space.

The Philadelphia Eagles released Ryan Mathews after the former Pro Bowl running back was cleared to return to football activities following neck surgery.

Mathews played two seasons with the Eagles after spending his first five years in San Diego. He had 1,200 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns for Philadelphia.

The move announced Tuesday was expected and saves the Eagles $4 million under the salary cap.

It’s still unknown how the Eagles will use their remaining running backs. Will it be a rotation or will a lead back still emerge?

“I think we’ve still got to work through that,” offensive coordinator Frank Reich said.

The Eagles signed veteran bruiser LeGarrette Blount to a one-year contract after he ran for a career-best 1,161 yards and led the NFL with 18 rushing TDs last season in New England. Second-year pro Wendell Smallwood showed flashes as a rookie, running for 312 yards in 13 games. Rookie Donnel Pumphrey, an undersized fourth-round pick, had a fumble on one of his carries and muffed a punt in the preseason opener against Green Bay. Undrafted rookie Corey Clement, who ran for 1,375 yards and 15 TDs for Wisconsin last year, had 13 yards on seven carries last week.

Then there’s versatile scat back Darren Sproles, who had a career-high 94 carries last year at age 33.

Cowboys: The NFL Players Association appealed running back Ezekiel Elliott’s sixgame suspension over the league’s conclusion that its 2016 rushing leader injured his former girlfriend in three separate incidents last summer. The union said it will represent Elliott “to ensure that the NFL is held to its obligation of adhering to principles of industrial due process under the collective bargaining agreement.”

A hearing with Commissioner Roger Goodell or an arbitrator will be scheduled within 10 days with a decision “as soon as practicable” after the appeal is heard, according to the labor agreement.

Bills: Starting left tackle Cordy Glenn took the next step in addressing lingering soreness in his left foot by receiving an injection from a foot specialist. Glenn has been in and out of a walking boot for much of the offseason, and missed all of the team’s spring practices.

Coach Sean McDermott has previously not ruled out the possibility of Glenn, the Bills’ starter at left tackle since being selected in the second round of the 2012 draft, requiring surgery.

Dolphins: Injuries continued to take a heavy toll on Miami, with cornerback Tony Lippett lost for the entire season after tearing his Achilles tendon during practice Monday.

Lippett, who started 13 games last year and had four interceptions, was expected to be the No. 3 cornerback behind Byron Maxwell and Xavien Howard.

Chargers: Starting middle linebacker Denzel Perryman is likely to be out for at least two months after injuring his ankle in the preseason opener.

Perryman had surgery on a torn ligament in his left ankle Tuesday, coach Anthony Lynn said.

GETTY Ryan Mathews led Philadelphia with 661 yards rushing despite a neck injury that limited him to 13 games. The Eagles added LeGarrette Blount in the offseason.