The Eagles final preseason game is just a few days away and for many, it will be their final chance to show what they can do ahead of the roster cutdowns. Here is one player at every position who will be fighting with all they have to make sure they sneak onto the final 53.
Quarterback: Cody Kessler
After suffering a concussion in the win over Jacksonville, Kessler watched on as Josh McCown was brought in as an emergency backup. To keep four quarterbacks, the Eagles would have to stash an injured Nate Sudfeld on IR and then keep a combination of Wentz, McCown and a mystery QB3. Kessler is hanging on for dear life at this point. As Thorson has progressed, the former third-round pick has regressed and one more sloppy showing could see the end of his bid to make the final 53.
Running back: Wendell Smallwood
There are plenty of running backs just outside of the bubble but making significant progress in an attempt to burst it. Wendell Smallwood is not one of those running backs. He is inside a bubble that's floating hopelessly toward a ceiling fan. Smallwood has struggled to show anything of note this preseason and with practice-squad eligible backs licking their lips and Corey Clement surging at the right time, Smallwood's inside route to RB4 is suddenly looking like it's going to be much more problematic. In his final contract year, this is an all-or-nothing week for the WVU product.
Offensive tackle: Brett Toth
Toth has just joined the Eagles so it's not as though he's in danger of being cut, although exposure to the waiver wire in order to keep him on the practice squad is likely. But Mailata is improving and if Toth is going to convince the Eagles, as Mailata did last year, that his ceiling is just too high to risk waiving to begin with, he has to put in a performance and a half on Thursday night. The chances are slim, but the remainder of those at the tackle position seem to have their future set in stone.
Center: Stefen Wisniewski
Wis just hasn't been good this offseason...at all. He was pushed inside to center upon re-signing with the team but has been wayward with his accuracy all offseason long. He was pushed aside for Nate Herbig last week and that could be one of the final nails in the coffin. Super Bowl starter or not, Wis is on the edge here.
Offensive guard: Matt Pryor
Pryor has been one of the most penalized players on the team throughout preseason and his stock has plummeted as a result. The TCU product may have all the versatility in the world, but mental discipline seems to have evaded him in his second offseason with the team. The only thing keeping him alive in this fight is the fact he was a former draft pick of the team.
Tight End: Alex Ellis
The Tight End caught a touchdown in Thursday night’s loss to Baltimore, as well as laying a crucial block on a 2-pt conversion, and flying around the field on special teams. He hasn’t been here long, but he's taken the offense by storm. With one game remaining, Richard Rodgers injured and both starting tight ends not playing, a roster spot is there for the taking.
Wide receiver: Marken Michel
Michel burst out of the gate this preseason with a stunning touchdown reception but has cooled off since. The versatile CFL product may have been displaced by Greg Ward Jr. who now has 87 receiving yards to his name but brings a different skill set to the table. Michel has done well to battle to this point, but will one last push be enough?
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Defensive tackle: Aziz Shittu
Shittu was on the Eagles roster in 2017 and returned with a bang in the second preseason game. He then caused as much disruption as the thunder storm in week 3 against the Ravens. He's on the outside looking in, but he's trending in the right direction at the right time.
Defensive end: Eli Harold
Harold is another name who has only just joined the team, but with Daeshon Hall pretty much guaranteeing himself a roster spot, the position looks all but sealed. The best of the rest is arguably Harold, who spent 2018 with the Detroit Lions as an OLB. He played in 13 games, amassing 8 tackles and a career-high 4 sacks. If he can prove himself as a quick learner, there's a slim chance the Eagles do keep him on with depth being light.
Linebacker: T.J Edwards
One man who has made sizeable waves in recent weeks has been UDFA LB T.J Edwards. Making plays all over the field, Edwards took a while to get going, but now he's playing at 100mph. The LB position is light on depth and the Eagles may keep an extra two names as a result. Will Edwards be joining L.J Fort? Can he displace Alex Singleton? It all comes down to one more game.
Cornerback: Orlando Scandrick
The Eagles cornerback battle is an interesting one in every sense of the word. LeBlanc's injury forced the Eagles to bring in some veteran help and Scandrick is coming off of a career-high 13 passes defensed in 2018. But he's been quiet in preseason and is clearly a backup nickel corner. The Eagles have a lot of versatility at the position, but can Scandrick make a statement and convince them to keep him around?
Safety: Rudy Ford
He may have only just been signed, but Pederson spoke highly of the former Cardinals Safety. Blake Countess picked up an injury and Tre Sullivan's tackling is woefully inconsistent. As a special teams ace, Ford could sneak on with a real niche role.
Who do you want to make the roster? Let us know in the comments.
