Quarterbacks Hackenberg, Callahan reportedly cut early
PHILADELPHIA » The first wave of Eagles cuts includes quarterbacks Christian Hackenberg and Joe Callahan, per reports.
That doesn’t qualify as a surprise as the depth chart includes Carson Wentz, Nick Foles and Nate Sudfeld.
Additionally, tight end Billy Brown and wide receiver Rashard Davis were reportedly axed.
The Eagles will confirm the 37 roster moves they must make to reach the 53-man limit after the 4 p.m. deadline Saturday.
Callahan threw a four-yard scoring pass to running back Matt Jones with 18 seconds left to lift the Eagles to a 10-9 win over the New York Jets in the preseason finale Thursday at Lincoln Financial Field.
Callahan completed 18 of 26 attempts for 164 yards with one interception and an 82.9 passer rating. Hackenberg completed just 7 of 16 pass attempts for 69 yards and two interceptions in his debut with the Eagles. He also had five rushes for 66 yards, although he lost a fumble.
Hackenberg appealed to the Eagles because he has practice squad eligibility. If he clears waivers he can be signed to the practice squad Sunday.
Meanwhile, several Eagles hopefuls are waiting by their phones. The list includes rookie wide receiver Tim Wilson (Radnor High), who caught three passes for 28 yards playing 35 snaps against the Jets.
“I feel like I performed well,” Wilson said. “All I needed was the opportunity and a little more playing time and that’s what I got. Thank God for that opportunity. It’s been a dream come true to actually just be here and play on this team. Making those catches in front of the hometown with my family here, it’s just awesome to perform and show them that I have been working hard and I just want to have fun out there.”
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Eagles Insider Dave Spadaro reported that the Super Bowl LII champion sign hanging in the locker room and around the NovaCare Complex was removed.
That, after Eagles leader Malcolm Jenkins said he was creeped out by the reminders because he’d turned the page on the title long ago.
The betting line for the opener didn’t budge. The Eagles are 3-point favorites vs. the Atlanta Falcons.
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The Eagles announced that tight end Brent Celek, a fifth-round pick of the club in 2007, has retired. Celek played his entire career with the Eagles concluding last year.
The product of Cincinnati finished with 398 receptions for 4,998 yards (12.6 average) and 31 touchdowns starting 132 of 175 games in the regular season. Celek caught 27 passes for 257 yards (9.5) and three TDs in nine postseason appearances covering five years.
Celek played 24 snaps on offense and 13 on special teams in the 41-33 win over the Patriots in SB LII, his last NFL game.
“There is nobody more deserving to finish his career as a Super Bowl champion,” owner Jeffrey Lurie said in a statement. “We are excited for him and his family as they embark on the next stage of their lives. Our doors are always open to Brent and he will be an Eagle forever.”
Celek is fourth on the Eagles’ alltime receptions list (398). His best season was in 2009, when he caught a career-high 76 passes for 971 yards and eight TDs. Pete Retzlaff is the only Eagles tight end with more receiving yards and touchdowns in a single season.
Celek set the Eagles’ single-game playoff record with 10 catches, good for 83 yards and two TDs in the NFC title game loss at Arizona in 2009.