Roster move: Eagles release three players, leaving ten open roster spots

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The Eagles minor roster purge continues, as the team announced that they have parted ways with three more players.

 

After spending 2015 on the Bengals practice squad, running back Terrell Watson was later signed by the Cleveland Browns. In two years of preseason reps, he amassed 187 yards on 41 rushes, receiving for 35 yards. Watson made his NFL debut in the Eagles season finale against the Dallas Cowboys, rushing for 28 yards and a touchdown on 9 carries. His inspirational story touched the hearts of many..and is sure to captivate many more as it turns a fresh page.

The Eagles also parted ways with fullback, Andrew Bonnet. A former NDSU teammate of Carson Wentz and C.J Smith, Bonnet also has experience at Tight end. As a senior, Bonnet made nine starts, playing in all 15 games, receiving for three touchdowns  and 105 yards.

There was a lot of hype surrounding the potential inclusion of a fullback last season, but Pederson never found a long-term solution at the position, nor did we really see it truly implemented on a regular basis. Bonnet bounced on and off the Eagles roster and practice squad in 2016..but the fullback conundrum now goes one step further, with the team having no clear option following his departure.

It was assumed that the Eagles would be more than willing to implement a fullback in their offense, but so far, we’ve seen the contrary. It will be interesting to see if the team bring in an undrafted free agent to fill that role, or if they perhaps start to broaden their horizons, with the likes of Trey Burton able to contribute in that aspect.

The Eagles also parted ways with offensive lineman, Josh LeRibeus. A former 3rd round pick in 2012 of the Washington Redskins, LeRibeus, has had an up and down career up until now. On one hand he has the capability to, and has played both the center and guard position at a high level. On the other hand, he has had his share of “issues”, from coming in 30 pounds over weight in 2013, to completely sitting without a roster spot in 2016. We caught up with Josh just over a month ago, as he opened up on his relationship with Carson Wentz and what he felt the future held for him in Philadelphia. Unfortunately, that future now takes him elsewhere.

The main takeaways from these roster moves are simple.
1) The Eagles are preparing for this year’s haul of undrafted free agents, with ten roster now remaining on the 90-man roster.
2) The backfield gets a little thinner, meaning competition will be ripe once Training camp begins after the arrival of UDFA Corey Clement.
3) We still don’t know how Doug Pederson values the fullback position in Philadelphia. It was crucial in Kansas City..but here, it’s a cloud that still hasn’t lifted..but one that will be extremely interesting to keep an eye on.
Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports