The Philadelphia Eagles are coming off a tough 24-21 loss to the New England Patriots in Week 2 of the preseason.
At least the performances were much better than the embarrassing 17-point loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1. It leaves the team with some much tougher decisions,s thanks to several players stepping up in big moments.
Among the players who have been playing and fighting for roster spots, who is going to end up making the cut, and who gets left off? Here's a look at the latest 53-man roster projection for the Eagles after the Patriots game.
Eagles' 53-man roster projection after preseason game loss to Patriots
QB - Jalen Hurts, Tanner McKee, Cole Payton
Andy Dalton's performance has been so bad through two preseason games that no one can see how the Eagles can justify him being on the roster. Dalton should either be traded or cut from the team after going 6-of-16 through two games. McKee threw two touchdowns and more than earned the backup job, with Payton being a developmental player as the third-string.
RB - Saquon Barkley, Tank Bigsby, Will Shipley
Carson Steele is going to make a tough argument to be the potential fourth-string, but the Eagles have other needs they need to fill first. Shipley was great in the Patriots game and played well enough to earn his spot as the third-string back.
WR - DeVonta Smith, Dontayvion Wicks, Makai Lemon, Hollywood Brown, Darius Cooper, Elijah Moore
With Johnny Wilson out of the equation now, the Eagles must decide whether to carry five or six wide receivers. Cooper is playing his way into the starting lineup, and Moore has good chemistry with Hurts, so the Eagles could keep six and see how things go with Lemon, as he works his way back in practice this week.
TE - Dallas Goedert, Johnny Mundt, Eli Stowers, Cameron Latu
Stowers isn't playing well at all, but as a second-round pick, he'll still make the roster. Mundt isn't playing in the preseason, which shows he's secured the backup job. Latu is too good on special teams to leave off the roster and could be the fullback unless they want Steele in that role.
OL - Jordan Mailtata, Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurgens, Tyler Steen, Lane Johnson, Fred Johnson, Markel Bell, Drew Kendall, Willie Lampkin, Micah Morris
The offensive line for the Eagles is starting to take shape in the right way, and everyone can almost assume how it's going to look. Fred Johnson, Bell, Kendall, and Lampkin pretty much look like locks, and Morris could be considered that too. Philly could throw curveballs like Jake Majors, but the five backups are playing their way onto the roster.
DL - Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Moro Ojomo, Ty Robinson, Byron Young
Robinson is emerging as a guy who could be in the rotation with the starters when the season begins. The defensive line looks pretty secure with those five, though a decision is still needed on Uar Bernard. A year in the practice squad with a few games being called up would benefit Bernard, but he is playing better in the preseason.
EDGE - Jonathan Greenard, Jalyx Hunt, Nolan Smith Jr., A.J. Epenesa, Arnold Ebiketie, Joshua Weru
Weru is playing his way onto the roster after posting a sack in the Patriots game and really showing his skills. Don't sleep on Jose Ramirez, though, as he has been generating a ton of pressures through two preseason games. The Eagles' edge rusher room is deeper than some might think.
LB - Zack Baun, Jihaad Campbell, Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Smael Mondon Jr.
The Eagles could carry maybe one more linebacker, but these four feel like the locks. Trotter is playing his way into the rotation as a rotational linebacker, and Mondon could become the next Trotter, as he is having a great preseason.
CB - Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, Riq Woolen, Jonathan Jones, Kelee Ringo
The cornerback room is a mystery because no one behind the three starters is doing anything to win a job. Jones is a veteran, so he should be okay, and there's a weird feeling that Ringo could make it, but Mac McWilliams will be in the conversation despite a bad preseason. An underrated name to watch is Shaun Wade after two forced fumbles in the preseason and leading the Eagles in tackles against the Patriots with 10.
S - Andrew Mukuba, Marcus Epps, Michael Carter II, J.T. Gray
The safety position could also maybe have one more guy, but again, these are the locks for now. Epps probably ends up being one of the starters, with Carter making a serious push to challenge him.
Special Teams - Jake Elliott (K), Braden Mann (P), Rocco Underwood (LS)
Read more: It's time for Eagles fans to start saying the quiet Chris Kuper part out loud
This should remain untouched throughout the preseason. The only thing to monitor is Elliott and how he performs on field goals, but he's doing well enough that nothing should change.
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