Predicting Eagles' 53-man roster after addition of Josh McCown

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I was ready to drop my latest 53-man roster prediction and then the Eagles signed Josh McCown.

And I don’t think they lured a 40-year-old out of retirement to cut him, so I had to rework some stuff.

Anyway, here’s my latest 53-man roster projection after two preseason games.

QB (3): Carson Wentz, Josh McCown, Nate Sudfeld

The signing of McCown means the end for Cody Kessler in Philly. It’s a shame for him that he got a concussion so early in Thursday’s game. Perhaps if he played well this preseason, the Eagles don’t sign McCown. But now that they did, Kessler’s gone. And this also changed my view on Clayton Thorson. If I had to guess now, I think the Eagles take a chance and try to sneak the rookie fifth-rounder through to their practice squad. If he plays extremely well in the last two preseason games, maybe they have to keep him on the active roster and roll with four, but I’m not ready to burn that roster spot yet.

TE (3): Zach Ertz, Dallas Goedert, Josh Perkins

Richard Rodgers would be the third tight end, but he hasn’t been healthy. Rodgers has a foot injury and the Eagles called him day to day back on Aug. 3 and he hasn’t practiced since. We’re getting close to the season and Perkins is younger and having a good camp. I’m giving him the edge right now.

WR (5): Alshon Jeffery, DeSean Jackson, Nelson Agholor, JJ Arcega-Whiteside, Mack Hollins

Fans might be over Hollins, but his ability as a special teamer keeps him around. The Eagles aren’t ready to give up on him. The biggest question for me was to keep five or six. I wanted six, but with injuries on defense, I’m giving that side of the ball an extra player. Sorry, Greg Ward and Marken Michel.

RB (4): Jordan Howard, Miles Sanders, Darren Sproles, Corey Clement

I guess there’s a possibility the Eagles could keep five, but it doesn’t seem worth it to me. That means Wendell Smallwood, Boston Scott and Josh Adams are cuts. Smallwood will latch on somewhere else and either Scott or Adams (maybe both) will be back on the practice squad. As long as Clement is healthy — and he appears to be — I’m going with four here.

OL (9): Jason Peters, Isaac Seumalo, Jason Kelce, Brandon Brooks, Lane Johnson, Andre Dillard, Jordan Mailata, Halapoulivaati Vaitai, Stefen Wisniewski

I was very close to leaving Wiz off the list and that could still happen. His inability to snap the football has effectively made him a backup at left guard only. So I’m not ready to lock in his spot. For now, I have Matt Pryor off the team after five penalties in two preseason games. I know the Eagles kept him on the roster all of last season, but I think they’d be able to sneak him to the practice squad in Year 2 to keep developing him. It’s sort of what they did with Dillon Gordon a few years ago.

DE (6): Brandon Graham, Derek Barnett, Vinny Curry, Josh Sweat, Daeshon Hall, Shareef Miller

Miller is a candidate for a *wink, wink* injury, but he’s looked good in the preseason. I’ll admit six DEs is probably one too many, but Hall deserves to make the team and Sweat has looked better in practice than he has in games.

DT (5): Fletcher Cox, Malik Jackson, Tim Jernigan, Treyvon Hester, Hassan Ridgeway

Ridgeway has a concussion, so we need to monitor that. But if he’s healthy, he should be on the team. Perhaps the Eagles keep just four defensive tackles, but for now, I’m not cutting at a position of depth. And Hester deserves to make the roster.

LB (5): Nigel Bradham, Kamu Grugier-Hill, Zach Brown, Nathan Gerry, L.J. Fort

T.J. Edwards might not make the initial 53, but he will land on the practice squad and should stay ready. I think if he doesn’t make the team, he’ll be one of the last cuts.

CB (6): Ronald Darby, Rasul Douglas, Avonte Maddox, Sidney Jones, Cre’Von LeBlanc, Orlando Scandrick

The Eagles might put LeBlanc on IR, but in order for him to return from IR this season, he needs to be on the initial 53-man roster. Maybe the Eagles play the game with Scandrick where they cut him and bring him back a week later to avoid guaranteeing his salary, but going into Week 1 with four healthy corners scares me too much.

I think Jalen Mills (foot) will start the season on PUP.

S (4): Malcolm Jenkins, Rodney McLeod, Johnathan Cyprien, Andrew Sendejo

Blake Countess is gone and Tre Sullivan hasn’t done enough to make this roster. This is a very veteran group of safeties, but Sendejo has played well and Cyprien has done enough to make the team.

ST (3): Jake Elliott, Rick Lovato, Cameron Johnston

Go ahead and write these guys in permanent marker.

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