Eagles Sweated More Over The Other Pass-Rushing Rookie Than the International Headliners

PHILADELPHIA — When the Eagles trimmed the roster to 53, the loudest names to casual fans on the waiver wire were the International Pathway prospects, defensive tackle Uar Bernard and edge rusher Joshua Weru.

Inside the Jefferson Health Training Complex, though, the real anxiety was reserved for a quieter cut: seventh-round rookie Keyshawn James-Newby.

James-Newby, 24, was always fighting a difficult numbers game after Philadelphia spent the offseason loading the edge with Jonathan Greenard, Arnold Ebiketie and A.J. Epenesa, layered to returning veterans Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt.

A sprained right ankle that cost James-Newby seven practices made the math even crueler. He flashed enough in limited work — including a sack and a quarterback hit in the preseason finale against Cincinnati — to stay in the conversation, but not enough to beat out a crowded veteran group.

The Eagles waived him on Aug. 30 and, after he cleared waivers, signed him to the practice squad the following day.

That outcome was not a given. Philadelphia lost an NFL-high four players off the wire during the initial cutdown to 53, and the front office was worried James-Newby would draw interest in a league that still lives by a simple rule: get the quarterback, or get to the quarterback.

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Aug 28, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Keyshawn James-Newby (50) battles against Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Javon Foster (73) during the first half at Lincoln Financial Field. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

James-Newby is undersized by modern edge standards at a listed 6-foot-2 and 240 pounds, a profile that helped drop a productive college rusher from potential Day 2 talk to the 252nd overall selection.

What sold the personnel staff was production at every stop.

Born in Pocatello, Idaho, and raised as a football standout in Helena, Montana, James-Newby started his college career at NAIA Montana Tech, where he piled up nine sacks over two seasons and earned All-Frontier honors. He jumped to FCS Idaho and kept climbing: five sacks as a first-year Vandal, then 10.5 sacks, 14.5 tackles for loss and FCS All-America recognition in 2024. He followed coach Jason Eck to New Mexico for a final season and led the Mountain West with nine sacks.

He enjoyed needling reporters with the joke about riding horses to school in Idaho. His college tape was less folksy, though.

James-Newby often won with an impressive first-step, advanced hand usage and a relentless motor that defined most productive pass rushers. All of it translated from NAIA fields to Big Sky stadiums to Mountain West Saturdays so why not the NFL?

James-Newby remains a practice-squad risk. Other teams can still poach him if the Eagles leave him exposed, and Philadelphia cannot assume Ebiketie or Epenesa will stay healthy and productive all year. If either veteran stalls, don't be surprised if the Eagles promote the rookie they were most afraid to lose.

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