Eagles Announce 53-Man Roster, Roll Dice for Practice Squad
Aug 22, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Will Shipley (28) runs against the New England Patriots during the first half at Gillette Stadium. (Gregory Fisher/Imagn Images)
Sometimes you keep players on the roster solely to protect them from waivers.
That seems to he the Philadelphia Eagles’ approach at quarterback when they announced the 53-man roster on Sunday. The roster contains four quarterbacks: Jalen Hurts, Tanner McKee, Andy Dalton, and Cole Payton.
The Eagles have a vested interest in developing their fifth-round pick, so keeping Payton on the roster allows for him to stay on the team and grow. It also allows them to shop Dalton and McKee around to a team that might want a starting quarterback or a quality backup. The cost is flexibility, as the Eagles had to thin out the router from 90 players to 53. You can’t protect all 37 players from waivers.
This means that you have to take a gamble, though some gambles are safe bets. Take Uar Bernard, the Nigerian defensive back who was drafted by the Eagles after never having played professional football in his life. The Eagles invested a lot into scouting Bernard, so they know what he has to offer, but another team might not be willing to take such a chance on an unknown. The Eagles are banking on Bernard clearing waivers so they can sign him to the practice squad and claim roster exemptions for him thanks to the International Player Pathway program.
For other players, the Eagles might not be so lucky. Cameron Williams and Cameron Latu both fell off of the roster and could find themselves donning different uniforms come week one. Others, to put it mildly, didn’t shine, and the Eagles will say so long to them as they can only keep 17 of the 37 players they cut on the practice squad.
Howie historically plays games with the practice squad, affording players extra looks while putting players that will almost certainly clear waivers but that the Eagles have special roles for onto the squad. Britain Covey is one such player, waived by the team but very likely to clear waivers and claim a practice squad spot. He can then be elevated thrice before the Eagles need to cut him for real or sign him to the roster as they’ve done in the past.
The Eagles have the meat of the team set for 2026. The practice squad is forthcoming, and then the team will be ready to go for week one.
