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?
Scroll down to read the rest of the article on the page below.
