2023 Roster Cut Tracker (updated 8/29/23 - 1:00pm)

[time2rock]

With the deadline now approaching for teams to trim their rosters to 53 (deadline is Tues, Aug 29 4pm), thought I'd start a thread to capture all of the cuts.  Will update as they are announced.

• TE Tyree Jackson, per Tom Pelissero. The Eagles tried to convert Jackson from a quarterback into a tight end early in 2021. He had his moments in training camp over the years and he is a height/weight/speed freak, but he did not become a refined player over time. 

• TE Dan Arnold, per Pelissero. Arnold had something of a breakout season in his fourth year in the NFL in 2020 with the Cardinals, catching 31 passes for 438 yards and 4 TDs. He caught 68.9 percent of the passes that came his way that season, and had an impressive 9.7 yards per target. But it's been downhill since for Arnold, who did not stand out in Eagles camp.

• QB Ian Book, per Jeff McLane. Book never had a chance once sixth-round rookie Tanner McKee looked like a legitimate player to be excited about during the preseason games.

• WR Johnny King, per Andrew DiCecco. King was a late edition to Eagles camp, and he actually made a decent number of plays in his short time with the team. He has a chance to be back on the practice squad for a longer look. 

• OG Tyrese Robinson, per McLane. Robinson was buried on the depth chart, and was just sort of a camp body.

• OT Dennis Kelly, per McLane. Kelly is a swing tackle (more experience on the right side than the left) who can fill in at guard in a pinch. He was an Eagles draft pick way back in 2012, before playing in Tennessee, Green Bay, and Indianapolis. Kelly seemed like a logical veteran addition, but he struggled in camp and was beaten out by Fred Johnson.

• OL Brett Toth, per McLane. The Eagles gave Toth a chance to widen his versatility by playing him at center, but he simply couldn't snap in shotgun and was demoted to third team LG.

• OL Josh Andrews, per McLane. Like Kelly above, Andrews is another experienced offensive lineman who just didn't play well enough in camp to make the team. There's probably more opportunity for Andrews to be back on the practice squad, however, because the Eagles don't have a bench center otherwise. 

• WR Deon Cain, per McLane. Cain became a fan favorite a year ago with some strong performances in the preseason games, but injuries compromised his chances of making an impression this summer.

• C Cameron Tom: Tom managed to stay on the Eagles' practice squad for much of the 2022 season, but may have a tougher time sticking in 2023 with a number of potential replacements ahead of him on the depth chart throughout camp.

• RB Kennedy Brooks: On the extremely rare occasions that the Eagles tackled in practice, it was always Brooks getting those carries, lol.

• WR Jadon Haselwood: The Eagles had two big-bodied wide receivers in camp in Haselwood and Joseph Ngata. The latter did more during camp and probably has the better chance of sticking on the practice squad.

• WR Freddie Swain: The Eagles signed Swain for a few days just to get through the final preseason game.

• DT Marvin Wilson: Big Marv has been on and off the Eagles' roster a lot.

• DT Olive Sagopolu: I thought Sagopolu had a decent enough performance working against Colts All-Pro OG Quenton Nelson in the Colts preseason game to warrant consideration for the practice squad.

• DT Caleb Saunders: Saunders, Robert Cooper, and Quinton Bell were all added just to get through the final preseason game.

• DT Robert Cooper: (See above)

• EDGE Quinton Bell: (See above)

• LB Tyreek Maddox-Williams: Maddox-Williams had a standout performance in the final preseason game and could warrant a longer look on the practice squad.

• OT Roderick Johnson: Johnson technically wasn't cut. He went on injured reserve.

7 more cuts announced today:

• WR Devon Allen, per Mike Garafolo: Allen could potentially offer some value as a gunner, but he hasn't developed much as a receiver, and a calf injury sustained while competing in track and field sidelined him to start camp.

• WR Greg Ward, per Garafolo: Ward is a guy who could find work every year as a career practice squad guy. 

• WR Britain Covey, per McLane: Welp. Personally, I figured Covey was a lock, since he was fine as a punt returner last season and the team doesn't have any other reasonable punt returner options currently on the roster. Perhaps they intend on bringing someone else in? If not, the next guy up would probably be Olamide Zaccheaus, who has three career punt returns.

• DE Tarron Jackson, per DiCecco: No surprise there. The Eagles are loaded on the edge, and Jackson failed to stand out after falling off the 53 a year ago.

• TE Brady Russell, per Dave Zangaro: Russell blocked well in camp and made a few plays as a receiver in the preseason games, but not enough to crack the roster. He should be back on the practice squad.

• P Arryn Siposs, per Derrick Gunn: Siposs failed in the postseason each of the last two years, and he stunk in camp. The Eagles finally recognized.

• CB Josiah Scott, per Adam Caplan: Scott got picked on while playing in relief of Avonte Maddox last season, and was on the outside looking in among a deep and talented group of corners in camp this summer.

More cuts announced since 1pm:

• OL Julian Good-Jones, per DiCecco: Good-Jones had a decent camp, and starting working in at center in addition to guard after Toth got demoted. He'll likely be back on the practice squad.

• WR Joseph Ngata, per Zangaro: Ngata got out to a great start in camp, consistently catching a lot of passes in each practice. However, he did not do much in the preseason games, and thus shouldn't attract attention from other teams around the league on the waiver wire. He'll likely be back on the practice squad.

• This isn't a cut, but DiCecco says that bubble player DT Kentavius Street likely made the team.

• RB Trey Sermon: Sermon has become something of a camp fan favorite, because 🤷‍♂️. He had two carries in 2022, and this is the second straight year he did not make his team's initial 53. He did get claimed on waivers last year (by the Eagles, duh), but it feels unlikely he'll get claimed this year. He may find another team's practice squad more appealing, though, since the Eagles go four deep at RB.

• LB Kyron Johnson: Johnson was a core special teamer last year, and was a true bubble player this season. This could have gone either way, really. I suspect he'll be back on the practice squad if he's not claimed.

• LB Nicholas Morrow, per McLane: Morrow entered camp as the favorite to start opposite Nakobe Dean, but he did not make plays throughout camp, and was leapfrogged by Zach Cunningham and Christian Elliss. 

• S K'Von Wallace, per DiCecco: Wallace got mop up duty in the last two preseason games against the Browns and Colts, which did not bode well for him. He was no better than the fifth safety behind Reed Blankenship, Sydney Brown, Terrell Edmunds, and Justin Evans, which left him on the bubble.

 

Other cuts not noted above include:

LB Ben VanSumeren

EDGE Janarius Robinson

CB Mekhi Garner

OG Josh Sills

S Tristin McCollum

[uncphillyfan]

Book, Arnold, Jackson

[Aerolithe_Lion]

 

[Aerolithe_Lion]

 

[Aerolithe_Lion]

 

[opa-opa]

Are we gonna get another punter?

[LacesOut]

1 hour ago, opa-opa said:

Are we gonna get another punter?

Hopefully!!!

[time2rock]

5 hours ago, uncphillyfan said:

Book, Arnold, Jackson

Thought you were making an educated guess here but I now see those were indeed released.

https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/eagles-cut-ian-book-dan-arnold-tyree-jackson

[time2rock]

Cain and Tom also released.

https://www.phillyvoice.com/eagles-cut-down-53-tracker-2023/

[20dawk4life]

7 hours ago, Aerolithe_Lion said:

 

[GoEagles614]

Cain should’ve had KR and PR opportunities to try to make the team. I like him more than Covey who is the meh-est WR I’ve ever seen. 

[eagle45]

6 hours ago, GoEagles614 said:

Cain should’ve had KR and PR opportunities to try to make the team. I like him more than Covey who is the meh-est WR I’ve ever seen. 

We’ve had some pretty meh WRs in Philly.  That’s a pretty strong statement.

[DrPhilly]

13 hours ago, opa-opa said:

Are we gonna get another punter?

@TEW I hope you've been practicing

[Aerolithe_Lion]

 

[brkmsn]

14 hours ago, GoEagles614 said:

Cain should’ve had KR and PR opportunities to try to make the team. I like him more than Covey who is the meh-est WR I’ve ever seen. 

We haven't seen Covey at WR much. He played 19 snaps on offense last year. Just imagine how much better this team would be if we had a much better WR5 for those 19 garbage time snaps. 

[GreenMachine]

21 hours ago, opa-opa said:

Are we gonna get another punter?

Really disappointed they didn't put more of an effort in at upgrading this position. It's a weak link. Frankly out side of field goals the special teams haven't seemed all that great the last several years. Would like to have seen them take a flyer of Adam Korsak who is the leading punter currently in the CFL after not being drafted. He was a top 1 or 2 prospect at punter in the last draft.  

[LacesOut]

Just don’t punt. Unless you’re inside your own 30. 🤓

I am a little concerned about the depth on the O Line. 

[GoEagles614]

5 hours ago, brkmsn said:

We haven't seen Covey at WR much. He played 19 snaps on offense last year. Just imagine how much better this team would be if we had a much better WR5 for those 19 garbage time snaps. 

Depth is important in case of injury, having a mediocre dedicated punt returner and undersized WR as your depth is a wasted roster spot. Get someone with some actual utility and value who can earn more than 19 snaps in a season. 

[brkmsn]

3 hours ago, GoEagles614 said:

Depth is important in case of injury, having a mediocre dedicated punt returner and undersized WR as your depth is a wasted roster spot. Get someone with some actual utility and value who can earn more than 19 snaps in a season. 

He was actually one of the better punt returners in the NFL in just his first year. He also basically had a year to work on his game as a WR and was actually, according to reports, performing pretty well in camp before the hamstring injury held him out. He was regularly creating separation in his routes. I'm not sure what size has to do with anything. We already have a big WR that is one of the top WRs in the NFL.

Personally, I would rather have a top 10 punt returner that rarely plays WR because the 4 WRs ahead of him stay healthy and get the job done, than a WR5 that sucks at returning punts and still never plays snaps on offense because the 4 WRs ahead of him stay healthy and get the job done. 

Last year we occasionally put Smith out there. He had 2 returns (one for 12 yards and 1 for 3 yards). Watkins had some practice there in camp this season, but he has zero NFL punt returns and didn't exactly impress with his kick returns.  Zaccheaus has 3 NFL punt returns (36 yards). Zaccheaus and Covey are the same height. I'm not really sure who these big WRs are that are going to come in here, outplay Covey as WR and field punts competently. If they already existed, they'd make the team over Covey. It's that simple. 

[time2rock]

9 more players released yesterday (and 1 placed on IR) ... post #1 updated.

[judunno]

7 hours ago, time2rock said:

9 more players released yesterday (and 1 placed on IR) ... post #1 updated.

I don'ts do maths wells. How many left to go?

[FranklinFldEBUpper]

2 hours ago, judunno said:

I don'ts do maths wells. How many left to go?

17

[Random Reglar]

On 8/26/2023 at 10:21 PM, GoEagles614 said:

Cain should’ve had KR and PR opportunities to try to make the team. I like him more than Covey who is the meh-est WR I’ve ever seen. 

If you actually look at old youtubes of Covey doing stuff,  Covey is not meh.

[Random Reglar]

On 8/27/2023 at 10:14 PM, brkmsn said:

He was actually one of the better punt returners in the NFL in just his first year. He also basically had a year to work on his game as a WR and was actually, according to reports, performing pretty well in camp before the hamstring injury held him out. He was regularly creating separation in his routes. I'm not sure what size has to do with anything. We already have a big WR that is one of the top WRs in the NFL.

Personally, I would rather have a top 10 punt returner that rarely plays WR because the 4 WRs ahead of him stay healthy and get the job done, than a WR5 that sucks at returning punts and still never plays snaps on offense because the 4 WRs ahead of him stay healthy and get the job done. 

Last year we occasionally put Smith out there. He had 2 returns (one for 12 yards and 1 for 3 yards). Watkins had some practice there in camp this season, but he has zero NFL punt returns and didn't exactly impress with his kick returns.  Zaccheaus has 3 NFL punt returns (36 yards). Zaccheaus and Covey are the same height. I'm not really sure who these big WRs are that are going to come in here, outplay Covey as WR and field punts competently. If they already existed, they'd make the team over Covey. It's that simple. 

Covey is also a different kind of WR that the Eagles might want to use occasionally.  Watkins is not a shifty, agile one,  OZ is more than Watkins, so compare Covey to OZ  

https://ras.football/ras-compare/?&p1=21228&p2=17699&pos=WR

OZ has higher ras,  heavier by about 20 pounds.  same height.  Covey has the better 10 split,  OZ has better jumps, Covey has better 3 cone and shuttle.   Basically,  Covey has average to low numbers except for 3,  10 split,  3 cone, shuttle.  And those are the numbers that a short quick agile punt returner or slot guy would have.   

OZ is heavier, stronger, and .01 faster 40.

Covey's best number is the 3 cone and OZ's worst number is the 3 cone.  Yet OZ's 3 cone is better than Watkins.

6.73 v 7.00 v 7.28 

 

[time2rock]

^^^ I agree with @Bwestbrook36 ...