Eagles Release CB Brooks, add LBs for Thursday Night

PHILADELPHIA (973espn.com) - The Eagles made a flurry of roster moves Wednesday, the most notable being the release of cornerback Ron Brooks.

Brooks, a Jim Schwartz favorite, was trying to reclaim the starting nickel back spot he earned last summer before a quadriceps tear ended his season in Week 6.

Brooks was back healthy and competing by the start of training camp but a hamstring injury suffered in the preseason opener on Aug. 10, along with the acquisition of Ronald Darby, set him back.

With Darby on board, veteran Patrick Robinson was moved inside and Brooks was bumped to the second team.

The recent acquisition of former third-round pick Dexter McDougle, another option in the slot, from the New York Jets sealed Brooks' fate.

Brooks, 28, was set to make $1.25 million this season and the Eagles will save $750K of that against the salary cap.

In need of linebackers for Thursday night's preseason finale against the Jets due to the unavailability of Jordan Hicks (groin), Najee Goode (hand) and Nate Gerry (hamstring), Philadelphia also released cornerback Mitchell White and signed linebackers Christian Tago and Carlos Fields.

Tago originally signed with Atlanta this year as an undrafted free agent out of San Jose State and was waived back in June. Fields, meanwhile, has some NFL experience, playing five games with the Redskins in 2015 and one with San Diego last season.

The Eagles' roster now stands at 85 players. They need to be down to the league-mandated limit of 53 before 4 p.m. Saturday.

-John McMullen covers the Eagles and the NFL for 973espn.com. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen