Five Eagles position battles that remain unresolved after roster cuts
· Yahoo Sports
Once the preseason ends, its dust clears, and its smoke settles, most know the NFL requires teams to reduce to the 53-player maximum. It does not require them to have every question answered. The Philadelphia Eagles have unveiled their 2026 roster, but every decision isn't necessarily a conclusion.
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In reality, some of the organization's most intriguing competitions may simply be entering a new phase. Every summer, roster construction creates the illusion of certainty. Where it lies differs depending on the team that is being discussed. A player wins a job. Another loses one. Depth charts become official.
Then September arrives. Injuries happen. Performances fluctuate, and front offices continue searching for upgrades. The Eagles understand that reality as well as any organization in football. General manager Howie Roseman has built a reputation for treating roster building as a year-round exercise rather than a one-day event. Even after the initial 53-man roster is finalized, several position groups could remain under evaluation.
Edge rusher
This is the easiest place to start. Jalyx Hunt no longer looks like a player competing for snaps. He looks like a player demanding them. The second-year pass rusher's breakout continues. He has built momentum after leading the Eagles in both sacks and interceptions last season. No other man to wear the jersey can lay claim to doing that.
Philadelphia entered the offseason believing Hunt could assume a larger role. Nothing that happened this summer suggested that belief was misplaced. The uncertainty begins behind him.
Nolan Smith remains an important piece of the future, but can he take off? Jonathan Greenard's status remains worth monitoring after an injury-plagued summer. Vic Fangio recently acknowledged Greenard may not be ready for Week 1, leaving questions about how the Eagles will distribute snaps early in the season.
A.J. Epenesa and Arnold Ebiketie provide depth, but neither has generated the type of excitement that eliminates future discussion. Joshua Weru flashed throughout camp, but the rookie's football experience remains remarkably limited. The Eagles waived him during final roster cuts. Perhaps he'll be a practice squad member if he passes through the waivers process. The Eagles may have enough bodies at edge rusher. Whether they have enough certainty is another conversation entirely.
Safety
The names are familiar. The feeling surrounding the position remains unchanged. DeJean will play safety in base sets. Marcus Epps, Michael Carter II, and second-year star Andrew Mukuba appear positioned to handle significant responsibilities. The latter three have had positive moments, whether that be throughout camp or the preseason, yet if you asked Eagles fans to identify the roster's most reassuring position groups, safety probably wouldn't make the list.
Perhaps Mukuba develops quickly. Perhaps Carter emerges as a dependable answer. Perhaps Epps delivers the stability the Eagles hoped he would bring.
Vic Fangio trusts Epps. That much is evident. Still, the position has carried an air of incompleteness since spring practices began. It feels less like a finished room and more like one waiting for another piece to arrive. That perception alone makes safety a position worth monitoring after cutdown day.
Cornerback
The Eagles have tremendous confidence in three cornerbacks: Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, and Riq Woolen. After that, things become less certain.
Kelee Ringo has shown growth and has again earned a roster spot, but questions remain about his overall consistency. Mac McWilliams continues developing, but projecting him into meaningful regular-season responsibilities may be asking too much. Johnathan Jones is also on the roster
The Eagles have enough talent at the top of the depth chart to feel comfortable entering the season. Whether they have enough proven depth behind those starters is a different discussion. When Roseman surveys the waiver wire, this feels like one of the position groups that could easily attract his attention.
Punt returner
The Eagles allowed several players to compete for this job during the summer. Two we saw often competing for the role were Britain Covey and Quez Watkins. Both were released during final roster cuts.
The Watkins experiment may be over. One can never rule out Covey returning for a practice squad role and the subsequent game-day elevations.
The Makai Lemon tried his hand at returning one during the finale. He muffed during the opportunity but had time to get back on the ball before the guys in the other jersey did. Still, it seems important to mention that no one wants someone like Cooper DeJean back there risking injury.
Backup quarterback
Perhaps no competition better illustrates the theme of this story. Someone will win the backup quarterback job. That doesn't necessarily mean anyone truly seized it. The Eagles keep four QBs on the roster.
Sean Mannion stated that competition could continue until Week 1. Regardless of who the Eagles ultimately choose, the outcome is likely to feel more like a decision than a victory. Both quarterbacks had strong moments. Both had stretches where they appeared capable of handling the role. Neither completely separated himself from the other.
Sean Mannion has already indicated the competition could continue as the regular season approaches, which only adds to the uncertainty. The bigger question may be whether the quarterback who eventually spends the entire season behind Jalen Hurts is already in the building. Most people would assume the answer is yes. The answer could very well be that he isn't.
The Eagles have every reason to hope he is, but if Roseman has taught Philadelphia anything over the years, it's that roster construction doesn't stop when the initial 53-man roster is announced. It evolves, and some of the Eagles' most important competitions may continue long after cutdown day has passed.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Five Eagles position battles that remain unresolved after roster cuts