Eagles Release LB Corey Nelson

PHILADELPHIA (973espn.com) - The Eagles have released veteran linebacker Corey Nelson.

Nelson was signed to $1.6 million, one-year deal in free agency and was expected to push for the third-linebacker role as well as be a key part of Dave Fipp's special-teams units.

None of that ever materialized as Nate Gerry and Kamu Grugier-Hill kept climbing the ranks at LB and LaRoy Reynolds solidified his role on the coverage units.

Philadelphia needs bodies at the position for Thursday night's preseason finale against the New York Jets, however, and brought in former Wake Forest LB Jaboree Williams earlier in the day.

By releasing Nelson the Eagles save $1 million in cap space and are left with $600K in dead money.

With Nelson out of the fold, the Eagles will likely carry Jordan Hicks, Grugier-Hill, Gerry, Reynolds and Joe Walker at LB for the Sept. 6 opener against Atlanta. Starter Nigel Bradham will be on the suspended list for that contest after running afoul of the league's personal-contact policy.

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