The Eagles chopped their roster to 53 names on Tuesday, a group that surprisingly includes James Bradberry.
After a season where the Eagles’ secondary was decimated by injuries and Bradberry was reduced to a shadow of his one-time Pro Bowl self at the corner position, his conversion to safety was enough to keep him in South Philadelphia beyond Tuesday’s roster compliance deadline.
He’s one of 11 members of the defensive secondary, a conscious effort by general manager Howie Roseman to ward off the revolving door that befell the Eagles in 2023.
“James always has had really good football instincts,” Roseman said. “When you see him play safety every day here and see his ability to diagnose, his football instincts, I think for all of us, that’s a transition. That’s a different position than playing outside corner. He’s got a skillset. It’s a long season. We always know he’s had tremendous success in this league playing as an outside corner, and with the goals we have for this team this season, having a veteran player like that on the roster that we know we can rely on when called upon we felt was important.”
Whether Bradberry remains in Philadelphia depends on offers from elsewhere.
Signed as a cap dump from the Giants in the spring of 2022, he was a big reason why the Eagles’ reached Super Bowl LVII, and a big reason why the Chiefs won said Super Bowl, after his fourth-quarter holding penalty. It led straight into a disastrous 2023 that led the Eagles to believe the 31-year-old could no longer play corner.
“He’s a pro and he’s been a pro ever since he’s come in this building,” head coach Nick Sirianni said. “He’s led by example. He’s led with his play, and guys look up to him.”
Bradberry is one of 11 defensive backs and 28 defensive players. That group includes 2023 late cut Tristin McCollum at safety. The Eagles retained seven cornerbacks. Roseman said the numbers are likely to look more balanced once they stock a practice squad with up to 17 players.
In addition to the 53, tight end Albert Okwuegbunam and wide receiver Ainias Smith were placed on injured reserve with a return designation. In the past, they would’ve had to be among the 53, instead of two IR spots beyond the 53.
Smith is one of eight picks in the 2024 draft to make the cut, which doesn’t include guard/center Dylan McMahon, a sixth-rounder from NC State. McMahon would seem a candidate for the practice squad, with Cam Jurgens listed as the lone true center among nine offensive lineman, though starting left guard Landon Dickerson had played the position.
The injury to Okwuegbunam leaves the Eagles with just two tight ends, Dallas Goedert and Grant Calcaterra.
Five receivers made the squad after last week’s acquisition of Jahan Dotson from Washington, with special-teamer Britain Covey and sixth-round draft pick Johnny Wilson.
Source: Berkshire mont
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