The Philadelphia Eagles made 32 moves Friday and Saturday, trimming their roster to the NFL-mandated 53. Here’s a closer look at the final moves:
Most significant move: The Eagles have decided to carry five running backs ... for now. Rookie Donnel Pumphrey, the fourth-round pick, did not have a strong summer. While his size (5-foot-9, 176 pounds) brought on comparisons to Darren Sproles, the reality is Pumphrey struggled to adapt to the jump in competition after breaking the FBS record for career rushing yards (6,405) at San Diego State. The Eagles, who haven't cut a fourth-round pick out of training camp since releasing safety Damien Robinson in 1997, informed Pumphrey shortly before the 4 p.m. ET deadline he made the initial 53. There could be some roster tweaking, with Pumphrey, Sproles, LeGarrette Blount, Wendell Smallwood and Corey Clement currently on the team. That seems like a bit much, especially considering running back is not exactly a position of great depth.
Local boy done good: Clement, an undrafted free agent out of Wisconsin and a Glassboro, New Jersey native, outperformed Pumphrey and earned a spot on the roster. Clement averaged 3.8 yards per carry (compared to 1.9 for Pumphrey) with two touchdowns this preseason and climbed up the depth chart on special teams, including as a kick returner.
A revamped receiving corps: Only one wide receiver from last year's original 53-man roster -- Nelson Agholor -- is represented in the 2017 group. Marcus Johnson, the 6-foot-1, 204-pound Texas product who was put on the Eagles practice squad this time last year, impressed enough during the spring and summer to earn a spot. Rookie fifth-round pick Shelton Gibson made the team despite struggling with drops for a good portion of the summer.
Waived (28): QB Matt McGloin, LB Don Cherry, DT Winston Craig, WR Rashard Davis, TE Anthony Denham, QB Dane Evans, LB Carlos Fields, CB Aaron Grymes, DE Jake Metz, C Tyler Orlosky, T Victor Salako, LB Christian Tago, DT Gabe Wright, TE Adam Zaruba, C/G Josh Andrews, TE Billy Brown, LB Nathan Gerry, T Dillon Gordon, G Darrell Greene, DT Justin Hamilton, T Taylor Hart, P Cameron Johnston, RB Byron Marshall, C Aaron Neary, CB C.J. Smith, WR Bryce Treggs, WR Greg Ward, CB Jomal Wiltz
Waived/injured (3): WR Paul Turner , DE Alex McCalister, S Tre Sullivan.
Reserve/Non-Football Injury List: CB Sidney Jones