The Philadelphia Eagles have released 19 players in the last few hours, meaning the team has 56 players on its current roster. They will need to trim their roster down to 53 players by 9 p.m. tonight.
The most notable players released were veteran slot cornerback Joselio Hanson, veteran safety Oshiomogho Atogwe, linebacker Keenan Clayton, and wide receivers Chad Hall, Marvin McNutt, and Mardy Gilyard.
On my final 53-man roster, I had Hanson making the team. I’m not stunned that he was cut, but I am surprised. I definitely think the Eagles made a mistake by letting the 31-year old walk in favor of a rookie who doesn’t have any experience playing nickel cornerback in a real game.
Atogwe was signed as veteran insurance at safety but he couldn’t stay healthy during the preseason and didn’t stand out when he was healthy. He likely won’t play again in the NFL.
Clayton was in a competition for the final spot at linebacker. I had him on the team, but I also predicted Casey Matthews would go on injured reserve. I’m not surprised to see Clayton released.
Hall must have been a tough player to cut. He’s a fan favorite and has been cut for three straight years now, but he made it back to the Eagles during the season in each of the past two seasons. Let’s hope he makes it three years in a row.
McNutt struggled during preseason and will probably make the practice squad.
Gilyard was signed as veteran insurance at wide receiver and actually played well enough during training camp and the preseason that he probably would have made the team if the Eagles weren’t stacked at wide receiver.
The Eagles also cut the following 13 players: fullback Emil Igwenagu, tight ends Chase Ford and Brett Brackett, offensive tackle DJ Jones, guard Brandon Washington, guard/center Steve Vallos, defensive tackles Frank Trotter, Ollie Ogbu, and Landon Cohen, defensive end Monte Taylor, linebackers Ryan Rau and Adrian Moten, and safety Phillip Thomas.
I had Vallos making my official 53-man roster, as well as Thomas, although I did say that I thought Thomas would be cut when the Eagles signed a safety off of the waiver wire.
Igwenagu, Hall, McNutt, Ford, Brackett, Jones, Washington, Trotter, Ogbu, Taylor, Rau, and Thomas have practice squad eligibility.
The Eagles also reached an injury settlement with guard Mike Gibson and he has been released from the injured reserve list.
Still on the roster of interesting note are quarterback Mike Kafka, running back Chris Polk, defensive tackle Antonio Dixon, defensive end Darryl Tapp, cornerbacks Brandon Hughes and Trevard Lindley, and punter Mat McBriar. The Eagles are likely trying to trade a number of these players today.
This article was written by Bryn Swartz, the top writer for the Philadelphia Eagles and a featured NFL columnist on Rant Sports. Bryn has written more than 1000 articles in less than two years as a member of Rant Sports. His blog, Eagles Central, was named the 2010 Ballhyped Sports Blog of the Year. To read a portfolio of Bryn’s best work, click here.
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