{"id":282210,"date":"2025-08-12T12:59:15","date_gmt":"2025-08-12T12:59:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/282210\/"},"modified":"2025-08-12T12:59:15","modified_gmt":"2025-08-12T12:59:15","slug":"eagles-53-man-roster-projection-update-after-the-first-preseason-game","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/282210\/","title":{"rendered":"Eagles 53-man roster projection update after the first preseason game"},"content":{"rendered":"

Now that we\u2019ve seen 12 Philadelphia Eagles<\/a> training camp practices and one preseason game, it\u2019s time for an updated 53-man roster prediction. Our last version was published one day before camp started<\/a>. We\u2019ll do another projection after the upcoming span that includes three practices (two joint training camp practices) and a preseason game against the Cleveland Browns.<\/p>\n

QUARTERBACK: Jalen Hurts, Tanner McKee, Dorian Thompson-Robinson (3) [3]<\/p>\n

Safe to say the reigning Super Bowl MVP will be starting for the Eagles. McKee might be the best backup quarterback in the NFL. The DTR vs. Kyle McCord decision is interesting. The former is a better option to play this season as an emergency third quarterback. The latter might have more long-term upside and is under team control for longer. The feeling here is that McCord isn\u2019t going to be some hot commodity on waivers, though. Is a team really going to be willing to open up a roster spot to claim him? If I\u2019m the Eagles, I stick with DTR.<\/p>\n

RUNNING BACK: Saquon Barkley, Will Shipley, AJ Dillon (3) [6]<\/p>\n

I think Barkley will look closer to his 2024 version than a lot of people are expecting. Shipley isn\u2019t an exciting runner but he can catch the ball and the Eagles seem to like him as RB2. It\u2019s been suggested that the Eagles might play some roster chicanery with Dillon since he\u2019s a vested veteran and they could bring him back without exposing him to waivers. I don\u2019t know about that. I\u2019d just keep him. Running the football is going to be a big part of this offense. Don\u2019t need to get too cute here.<\/p>\n

FULLBACK: Ben VanSumeren (1) [7]<\/p>\n

BVS will have a very limited role as an offensive player but he\u2019s a key special teams contributor who might still be able to play at linebacker in an emergency.<\/p>\n

WIDE RECEIVER: A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Jahan Dotson, Johnny Wilson, Ainias Smith, Darius Cooper (6) [13]<\/p>\n

A.J. and DeVonta figure to be awesome once again this season. Dotson has had a nice summer to cement himself as WR3. The depth behind the top trio is actually pretty intriguing. Wilson had a bad start to camp but he\u2019s turned it around to likely secure his roster spot. Ainias doesn\u2019t really do much for me but the Eagles seem to like him and he might be able to serve as the primary punt returner. Cooper looks way too good to cut. Elijah Cooks deserve to make this team but his shoulder injury isn\u2019t helping his case. Terrace Marshall has done some nice things on offense but he doesn\u2019t play special teams. Taylor Morin has earned practice squad consideration.<\/p>\n

TIGHT END: Dallas Goedert, Grant Calcaterra, Kylen Granson (3) [16]<\/p>\n

I wouldn\u2019t be surprised if Goedert has a career season in his contract year. The Eagles clearly view Calcaterra as TE2. Granson has shown the most of any TE3 candidate. I don\u2019t think the Eagles keep four tight ends AND a fullback.<\/p>\n

OFFENSIVE LINE: Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurgens, Tyler Steen, Lane Johnson, Matt Pryor, Darian Kinnard, Drew Kendall, Myles Hinton, Brett Toth (10) [26]<\/p>\n

Steen has won the starting right guard job. The Eagles are happy that Dickerson dodged a season-ending injury. But it\u2019s not clear if he\u2019ll truly be ready to play in Week 1. If he isn\u2019t, Pryor and Toth seem like the top contenders to start. Kinnard could also be in the mix. Kendall becomes more important with Dickerson injured since the latter could be the top backup at center. Hinton needs work but Jeff Stoutland seems to like his potential. Kendall Lamm is a vested veteran, so, the Eagles can play the roster chicanery game to temporarily open up a spot by cutting him only to bring him back shortly thereafter. Or maybe after Week 1 as to not guarantee his 2025 salary. Kenyon Green is reportedly expected to miss the rest of preseason. Maybe he\u2019s a candidate for one of the Eagles\u2019 two injured reserve (designated for return) spots.<\/p>\n

EDGE RUSHER: Nolan Smith, Jalyx Hunt, Joshua Uche, Ogbo Okoronkwo, Patrick Johnson (5) [31]<\/p>\n

The Eagles are betting big on their young edge rushers stepping up. There\u2019s reason to be excited about both Smith and Hunt but it\u2019s a significant leap of faith. Uche has been the Eagles\u2019 third-best edge rusher this offseason. Okoronkwo might have the lowest ceiling of any Eagles rusher here but he provides the highest floor as a solid rotational player. Johnson hasn\u2019t proven to be a good regular season player but he\u2019s at least a good preseason player, so, maybe that will finally translate over. Plus, he can play special teams. Azeez Ojulari just hasn\u2019t shown much of anything this summer. I wonder if injuries have taken their toll on him.<\/p>\n

DEFENSIVE TACKLE: Jalen Carter, Moro Ojomo, Jordan Davis, Ty Robinson, Gabe Hall (5) [36]<\/p>\n

Carter is a beast and will be in the Defensive Player of the Year conversation. Ojomo has zero career regular season sacks but that\u2019s going to change this year. He\u2019s going to be very disruptive, if training camp is any indication. 2025 is a huge season for Davis, who needs to prove he\u2019s worth a long-term investment. Robinson should be able to contribute as a rotational defensive tackle who plays limited snaps. Ditto for Hall, who really made a leap from Year 1 to Year 2. Vic Fangio keeps talking up Byron Young, so, that\u2019s something to watch here. But Young hasn\u2019t really stood out and he\u2019s been missing time due to injury.<\/p>\n

OFF-BALL LINEBACKER: Zack Baun, Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Jihaad Campbell, Smael Mondon Jr. (4) [40]<\/p>\n

Baun was awesome last year. It\u2019ll be interesting to see to what extent he can keep it up. Trot Jr. is a really smart player who always knows where to be. He\u2019s not giving up his playing time without a fight. Campbell starting is a matter of \u201cwhen\u201d and not \u201cif.\u201d Mondon Jr. has had a good training camp but he struggled in the Eagles\u2019 first preseason game. He\u2019ll ideally be a depth player and special teams contributor. It\u2019s not perfectly clear how Nakobe Dean fits in when he returns from PUP. But the Eagles don\u2019t need to cross that bridge until they get there.<\/p>\n

CORNERBACK: Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, Kelee Ringo, Jakorian Bennett, Mac McWilliams, Eli Ricks (6) [46]<\/p>\n

Mitchell has regularly locked down A.J. and DeVonta in training camp. He\u2019s also practiced shadowing the Eagles\u2019 top receivers. He has All-Pro potential entering Year 2. DeJean is currently the Eagles\u2019 slot cornerback in nickel packages and a safety in their base defense. We\u2019ll see if they continue to stick with that configuration or if they shift his role at all. The feeling here is that Ringo will get the first shot starting at CB2 but he might not hold the job for the entire season. Bennett could eventually take over for Ringo. McWilliams can provide depth at both the inside and outside. I have Adoree\u2019 Jackson being this year\u2019s Devin White as a veteran player who took a bunch of first-team reps in the summer only to get cut. Fangio doesn\u2019t seem super keen on Jackson. Eli Ricks is on the bubble; he\u2019s had a better summer than last year.<\/p>\n

SAFETY: Reed Blankenship, Sydney Brown, Andrew Mukuba, Andre\u2019 Sam (4) [50]<\/p>\n

The only thing we know for sure here is that Blankenship will be starting. Brown is currently the top contender to play safety in the Eagles\u2019 nickel packages. But that\u2019s more about him winning the job by default than it has been him seizing the role. Mukuba might eventually supplant Brown like how DeJean eventually replaced Avonte Maddox last season. But that\u2019s not looking extremely likely at this moment in time. Sam looks competent on defense and he\u2019s good on special teams. Tristin McCollum might be ahead of Sam but they\u2019re both arguably on the bubble.<\/p>\n

KICKER: Jake Elliott (1) [51]<\/p>\n

PUNTER: Braden Mann (1) [52]<\/p>\n

LONG SNAPPER: Charley Hughlett (1) [53]<\/p>\n

Hughlett has been missing time due to a neck injury. I\u2019m guessing he\u2019ll be back and they\u2019ll waive Christian Johnstone.<\/p>\n

PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO PERFORM LIST (PUP): LB Nakobe Dean<\/p>\n

There\u2019s currently no indication that Dean will be activated from the active\/PUP list. If Dean does indeed go on the reserve\/PUP list, he\u2019ll automatically be ineligible to play in the first four games of the season.<\/p>\n

INJURED RESERVE (DESIGNATED FOR RETURN): OG Kenyon Green, OT Cameron Williams<\/p>\n

Green is expected to miss the rest of the preseason with an injury. He doesn\u2019t deserve to make the team based on merit but the Eagles might not want to give up on his theoretical upside. As a developmental tackle, Williams seems like a prime phantom injury candidate to be stashed on IR.<\/p>\n

QB Kyle McCord, RB ShunDerrick Powell, RB Montrell Johnson Jr., WR Terrace Marshall, WR Taylor Morin, TE Harrison Bryant, TE E.J. Jenkins, OL Hollin Pierce, OL Trevor Keegan, EDGE Ochaun Mathis, DT Jacob Sykes, DT Byron Young, LB Dallas Gant, LB Lance Dixon, CB Tariq Castro-Fields, S Maxen Hook<\/p>\n

International exemption: OT Laekin Vakalahi<\/p>\n

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