Eagles face roster crunch as more than 50 players could hit waivers before the 53-man deadline
As the NFL preseason moves toward final cutdowns, the Philadelphia Eagles are preparing to trim from 90 players to the 53-man limit by August 26, with additional movements likely as teams finalize their practice squads. While many players on rookie contracts should be safe from waivers, any who are waived this week would enter the waiver wire, where other teams can place claims to assume their contracts.
Waived players (as listed)
– WR Ife Adeyi
– RB Montrell Johnson Jr.
– LB Lance Dixon
– DT Joe Evans
– DB Maxen Hook
– DB Brandon Johnson
– QB Kyle McCord
– WR Taylor Morin
– OL Hollin Pierce
– RB ShunDerrick Powell
– OLB Antwaun Powell-Ryland Jr.
– DE Jereme Robinson
– LB Dallas Gant
– DT Justin Rogers
– S Andre’ Sam
– DT Justin Sykes
– OT Laekin Vakalahi (international exemption)
– DB A.J. Woods
– WR Elijah Cooks
– TE E.J. Jenkins
– TE Cameron Latu
– RB Keilan Robinson
– WR Ainias Smith
– DB Tariq Castro-Fields (waived/injured)
– DB Lewis Cine
– OLB Ochaun Mathis
– CB Eli Ricks
– QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson
Rostered (to remain on the Eagles’ active roster or current designation)
– WR Darius Cooper
– OT Myles Hinton (injured reserve/designated for return)
– C Drew Kendall
– LB Jihaad Campbell
– CB Mac McWilliams
– LB Smael Mondon Jr.
– S Andrew Mukuba
– DT Ty Robinson
– OT Cameron Williams
– DT Gabe Hall
– DB Cooper DeJean
– OLB Jalyx Hunt
– G Trevor Keegan
– S Tristin McCollum
– CB Quinyon Mitchell
– RB Will Shipley
– LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr.
– CB Jakorian Bennett
– S Sydney Brown
– DT Jalen Carter
– QB Tanner McKee
– WR John Metchie III
– DT Moro Ojomo
– CB Kelee Ringo
– OLB Nolan Smith Jr.
– OL Tyler Steen
– FB Ben VanSumeren
– DT Byron Young
What is waivers in the NFL?
As teams finalize their rosters for the season, players can be waived or released. A waived player is placed in the waiver wire, where any team can claim them and assume their current contract. Only the team with the highest claim wins the right to the player. The waiver order is currently tied to the 2025 NFL Draft order unless trades are involved, and teams file waiver claims simultaneously.
Who goes on waivers vs released?
– Players with at least four years of accrued NFL service time are typically released outright.
– Players with fewer than four years of service are waived and thus subject to waiver wire claims. If unclaimed, they can sign with any team, including their former team’s practice squad.
– The typical waiver pool includes players not yet eligible for unrestricted free agency, such as Exclusive Rights Free Agents (fewer than three years) or Restricted Free Agents (around three years).
NFL waiver order right now
– During the preseason and the first three weeks of the regular season, the waiver order mirrors the 2025 NFL Draft order. After four games, the order resets to current standings, giving the league’s weakest teams the first crack at waiver claims, with the Titans often listed near the top due to draft positioning.
What this means for the Eagles
– The club faces a significant cutdown period, with more than 50 players potentially subject to waivers as they pare down to 53 and refine a 16-man practice squad.
– Expect ongoing activity on the waiver wire and subsequent practice squad signings in the days following the cut deadline.
– For Philadelphia, the strategy is to protect core rookies under their rookie contracts while evaluating veterans and depth players who could be attractive to other teams on waivers.
Summary of key points
– The Eagles could have a large number of players on waivers as they trim to 53.
– A mix of veterans, rookies, and international exemptions appear on the waiver list.
– The rostered group includes notable young talents who are viewed as building blocks for the team’s future.
– Waivers are determined by the current order, which follows the draft order and standings, impacting who can claim players.
Positive note
– This period offers the Eagles a chance to reshape depth with strategic waiver claims while preserving key talent for the practice squad, potentially strengthening the team’s long-term depth and development.
If you’d like, I can add a quick explainer box about how waivers affect fantasy leagues or a short glossary of terms used in NFL roster moves to help readers new to the process.