Eagles 53-Man Roster Projection 4.0: Are Carson Steele, Joshua Weru Locks?

A lot can change in a week, especially when it comes to the Philadelphia Eagles and roster construction.

Joint practices and a week of preseason football will accomplish that, as the Eagles had plenty of winners and losers throughout their week in Foxborough. There were players that appeared to seal their roster spot and other bubble players who are set to be cut.

The 53-man roster changes consistently, and the Eagles were a week away from finalizing their initial roster. Heading into the final week of camp, this is my latest projection of the 53 following the second preseason game against the Patriots.

We'll update this every week leading up to cutdown day next Sunday and highlight the changes from the previous edition.

Quarterback (3): Jalen Hurts, Tanner McKee, Cole Payton

Previous: Jalen Hurts, Andy Dalton, Tanner McKee

Whether performances in the second preseason game will matter will tell where the Eagles stand at QB2. McKee should be the front runner for QB2, as Dalton has been dreadful this preseason.

Dalton has been getting more snaps than McKee in practice, but McKee has significnatly outperformed him in the preseason games. Mckee has been with the third team for the majority of those games, yet that should be in the plus column based on how well he's played.

Payton hasn't done anything to make this roster. He'll stick around, however, as the Eagles will attempt to deal the loser of the QB2 competition. That should be Dalton, who played his way off the 53.

Running back (4): Saquon Barkley, Tank Bigsby, Will Shipley, Carson Steele

Previous: Saquon Barkley, Tank Bigsby, Will Shipley

Notice how there are four running backs instead of three? Steele did enough in the second preseason game to earn a roster spot at this stage of training camp.

The Eagles are looking for a fullback in Sean Mannion's offense. Steele showed he can be a weapon in the flat and generate yards after the catch. He also runs the ball with authority too and played that fullback role with the Chiefs.

Steele gets the edge over Cameron Latu at this juncture, thanks to several running backs going through injuries that led to more touches.

Wide receiver (5): DeVonta Smith, Dontayvion Wicks, Makai Lemon, Hollywood Brown, Darius Cooper

Previous: DeVonta Smith, Dontayvion Wicks, Makai Lemon, Hollywood Brown, Darius Cooper

There are the five I'm going with, even though Elijah Moore is making this decision very difficult. Moore had a good week of practice in Foxborough, but a neck injury hurt his chances to outplay Cooper in the second preseason game.

Brown has shown enough to justify sticking around on the 53, as he also had a good week up north. The Eagles have $5 million reasons not to cut Brown, even if Moore has outplayed him this summer.

Cooper isn't a roster lock yet, but he's close. The Eagles need a blocking receiver and Cooper is the best option they have at the moment. There could be a trade in the works too.

Tight end (3): Dallas Goedert, Eli Stowers, Johnny Mundt

Previous: Dallas Goedert, Eli Stowers, Johnny Mundt, Cameron Latu

I'm skeptical having three tight ends right now. Stowers just isn't ready to play in an NFL game and Mundt is more of a blocking tight end than a contributor in the pass game.

The depth at tight end is a concern, and the Eagles aren't keeping four if Latu can't play fullback. No reason for Grant Calcaterra nor E.J. Jenkins to be on this team either. The Eagles may be looking to add depth here too.

Steele gets the fullback spot over Latu for now. The Eagles have three tight ends and four running backs.

Offensive line (10): Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurgens, Tyler Steen, Lane Johnson, Fred Johnson, Markel Bell, Drew Kendall, Willie Lampkin, Jake Majors

Previous: Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurgens, Tyler Steen, Lane Johnson, Fred Johnson, Markel Bell, Drew Kendall, Micah Morris, Willie Lampkin, John Ojukwu

The first nine players listed here are locks to make this roster. The Eagles have an excellent second team offensive line, which displayed their dominance in the first two preseason games. They developed their interior offensive linemen well, as that concern from early in the summer is an afterthought.

Where does the decision get tricky? Finding the 10th offensive lineman.

Majors had a strong preseason showing against the Patriots, taking advantage of John Ojekwu missing the game. Ojekwu was in a prime position for this spot prior a pectoral injury suffered last week, allowing majors to get more work with the second team.

Micah Morris was a sixth-round pick, but he's been stuck on the third team. Cameron Williams is a tackle the Eagles like, but he hasn't done enough to make the roster. The Eagles could make things interesting by trading Fred Johnson, yet having a veteran at tackle behind the starters is paramount.

The 10th offensive lineman will be the battle to watch this week. Perhaps the Eagles go 11 offensive lineman too, but that seems like a lot for a roster that has some holes to fill.

Pass rusher (6): Jonathan Greenard, Jalyx Hunt, Nolan Smith, Arnold Ebiketie, A.J. Epenesa, Joshua Weru

Previous: Jonathan Greenard, Jalyx Hunt, Nolan Smith, Arnold Ebiketie, A.J. Epenesa

Two factors are in play here. Will the Eagles place Greenard on PUP and create a roster spot for Weru or will Greenard be healthy enough not to miss the first four weeks of the season and the Eagles still protect Weru.

What happens with Greenard impacts Weru, as defensive coordinator Vic Fangio admitted he's concerned Greenard won't be ready by Week 1 with his pectoral injury.

Will the Eagles actually expose Weru to waivers after the preseason he's had? Weru is also getting better by the day and looks like he can help the team this year -- crazy to think a month ago.

I don't think Howie Roseman is going to allow that to happen. Weru makes this team for that reason.

Defensive tackle (6): Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Moro Ojomo, Ty Robinson, Byron Young, Uar Bernard

Previous: Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Moro Ojomo, Ty Robinson, Byron Young, Uar Bernard

Bernard has been on every single one of my roster projections. This was the first time I didn't have him as a stone cold lock.

Would the Eagles really go expose Bernard to waivers? Thanks to the emerge of Weru, it sure could trend that way. The Eagles can take the risk Bernard won't get claimed has he still has a lot of development before he can contribute to any team. I'll keep him on for now by putting on my general manager cap (you'll see by scrolling down).

Having Bernard on the 53-man roster would be a huge investment for any team this year.

Robinson is off the roster bubble by the way. He made the 53 and should not have to play in the preseason finale this week.

Off-ball linebacker (5): Zach Baun, Jihaad Campbell, Jeremiah Trotter Jr. Smael Mondon, Chance Campbell

Previous: Zach Baun, Jihaad Campbell, Jeremiah Trotter Jr. Smael Mondon, Chance Campbell

Vic Fangio believes this is the deepest position on the Eagles, as position which Philadelphia has three starters. Smael Mondon is pretty good too and Fangio likes Campbell, so these are the five.

Deontae Lawson has had a good summer, and he's been productive in the preseason games. He should have a spot on the practice squad.

Brandon George has made a lot of plays on special teams despite only being here a week. Perhaps he can play his way onto the practice squad.

Cornerback (5): Quinton Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, Tariq Woolen, Kelee Ringo, Jonathan Jones

Previous: Quinton Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, Tariq Woolen, Kelee Ringo, Jonathan Jones

The Eagles are thin at cornerback thanks to injuries, leaving the door open for Mac McWilliams to compete for a roster spot. These are the five the Eagles go with, but who knows when Jones will be back.

Jones has 20 days to be ready for Week 1, and he's essentially a lock for the 53 as the top backup on the outside and in the slot behind the starters. Ringo is an excellent special teams player and has done enough at cornerback to stick around.

Wouldn't be surprising if the Eagles looked to upgrade the depth at cornerback, pending on how significant the Jones injury is.

Safety (4): Andrew Mukuba, Marcus Epps, Michael Carter II, Cole Wisniewski

Previous: Andrew Mukuba, Marcus Epps, Michael Carter II, Andre Sam

Assuming the Eagles go with four safeties, the final roster spot for safety is what to watch for in practice this week. The Eagles want to give Wisniewski a shot now that he's healthy, and appear to letting the seventh-round pick play as much as he can.

This is why I have Wisniewski over Sam and Maximus Pulley. A good week for Wisniewski could seal the final safety spot, especially if Wisniewski can play special teams. That's his ticket towards the 53.

A big preseason finale for Pulley could chance the Eagles mid. Pulley has had a good summer and should be on the practice squad.

Special Teams (2): Jake Elliott, Braden Mann

Previous: Jake Elliott, Braden Mann

Let's bet Howie Roseman gets creative here and exposes Rocco Underwood to waivers, looking to find whatever long snapper is available. The Eagles will have two weeks to find one.

Underwood could make the 53, but the Eagles have let previous long snappers hit waivers before. This wouldn't be a new development. They can afford to make this move and protect someone else on the 53 for the time being.

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