Birds down to 2 QBs after cutdown day
PHILADELPHIA » NFL cutdown day passed quietly for the Eagles.
There weren’t any shocking moves, unless your idea of outrageous is keeping six of seven mostly underperforming draft picks, including running back Donnel Pumphrey and wide receiver Shelton Gibson.
Aside from those mild head turners, the Eagles put the roster together intuitively Saturday.
Yes, they kept just eight offensive linemen. Only six are proven. Why keep nine or 10, which they’ve done in the past, when it’s not worth the salary cap space?
Yes, the Birds have five running backs on the roster. Only three, maybe four will dress on game day, and Pumphrey won’t be among them.
Oh, and it’s true, Eagles fans, Nelson Agholor still has a job. That doesn’t mean he’ll be active on game days.
Here’s how the Eagles’ 53-man roster shapes up:
QUARTERBACKS (2) » Carson Wentz, Nick Foles.
SYNOPSIS » Foles insists his tennis elbow is fine. That’s good because the Eagles (knock on wood) believe Wentz will be their first quarterback to start all 16 games in back to back seasons since Donovan McNabb did so in 2003-04. We’re skeptical that anyone play 32 in a row in this city. RUNNING BACKS (5) » LeGarrette Blount, Darren Sproles, Wendell Smallwood, Corey Clement, Donnel Pumphrey.
SYNOPSIS » Pumphrey is around for his upside. The others earned it. That said, if the Eagles make the most of their game-planning they have a thumper in Blount, a dangerous thirddown back in Sproles, a slasher in Smallwood and two healthy scratches in Clement and Pumphrey.
WIDE RECEIVERS (6) » Alshon Jeffery, Torrey Smith, Nelson Agholor, Mack Hollins, Marcus Johnson, Shelton Gibson.
SYNOPSIS » Gibson also was kept for his upside. He didn’t outperform any of the guys on the depth chart. Even Bryce Treggs was better, and he was released. Jeffery and Smith upgrade the unit. Agholor reduces its credibility. Johnson and Gibson will be healthy scratches early on. TIGHTENDS(3)» Zach Ertz, Trey Burton, Brent Celek.
SYNOPSIS » Look for Billy Brown (64, 255) to join the practice squad — just one play away from the varsity. OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (8) » Jason Peters, Isaac Seumalo, Jason Kelce, Brandon Brooks, Lane Johnson, Stefen Wisniewski, Hal Vaitai, Chance Warmack.
SYNOPSIS» Gordon started off big but finished small. The Eagles are light at tackle, so look for Taylor Hart to sign with the practice squad. Warmack got a one-year contract extension. The Eagles cannot afford an injury anywhere but possibly the pivot.
DEFENSIVE LINE (10) » Brandon Graham, Fletcher Cox, Tim Jernigan, Vinny Curry, Chris Long, Derek Barnett, Destiny Vaeao, Steven Means, Beau Allen, Elijah Qualls. SYNOPSIS » No surprises at all here. The big question is whether this group can stop the run. We don’t see it without safety help. LINEBACKERS (6) » Jordan Hicks, Nigel Bradham, Mychal Kendricks, Kamu Grugier-Hill, Najee Goode, Joe Walker.
SYNOPSIS» We still believe Kendricks will be traded because the Eagles basically need just Hicks and Bradham on the field at the same time. GrugierHill is a special teams guy. Walker couldn’t beat Kelce in a foot race. DEFENSIVEBACKS(10)» Malcolm Jenkins, Rodney McLeod, Corey Graham, Chris Maragos, Jalen Mills, Ronald Darby, Patrick Robinson, Rasul Douglas, Jaylen Watkins, Dexter McDougle. SYNOPSIS » This group remains a work in progress at cornerback. We just don’t see Mills and Darby earning much respect. McDougle was signed to a one-year contract extension. SPECIALIST (3) » Kicker Caleb Sturgis, punter Donnie Jones, long snapper Rick Lovato. SYNOPSIS » Jones and rookie punter Cameron Johnston were still around after the first wave of cuts. Look for Johnston to be claimed.