Rodgers to IR, Scandrick Among Early Eagles Cuts

PHILADELPHIA (973espn.com) — The Eagles got started early when it comes to the cutdown to 53 announcing 25 roster moves on Friday, including ending the season of Richard Rodgers by placing the veteran tight end on injured reserve.

Before injuring his foot in a joint-practice with Baltimore Rodgers was expected to be the third TE behind Pro Bowl star Zach Ertz and the emerging Dallas Goedert.

The Eagles also released five veterans, including cornerback Orlando Scandrick and trade pickup Eli Harold, a pass-rushing defensive end acquired from Buffalo for rookie offensive tackle Ryan Bates. The other veterans cut loose were defensive end Kasim Edebali, linebacker Hayes Pullard and tight end Will Tye.

Scandrick, a vested player, would have had his contract guaranteed if he was on the Week 1 roster so the Eagles could revisit his status in Week 2 if he has no other options.

Philadelphia also waived quarterback Cody Kessler, running back Donnel Pumphrey, receivers Carlton Agudosi, Marken Michel and DeAndre Thompkins, offensive linemen Anthony Fabiano, Riley Mayfield and Keegan Render, defensive tackle Kevin Wilkins, linebackers Alex Singleton and Chris Worley, cornerbacks Josh Hawkins, Jeremiah McKinnon, Ajene Harris and Sojourn Shelton as well as safeties Trae Elston, Deiondre' Hall and S Jason Thompson.

Defensive tackle Aziz Shittu was waived with an injury designation and will revert to IR if he clears waivers unless the Eagles reach an injury settlement with him.

Kessler's fate was sealed with the Eagles convinced Josh McCown to come out of retirement to backup Carson Wentz while Pumphrey, a former fourth-round pick in 2017, is likely at the end of the road in Philadelphia. Hall spent last season a special-teams option for Dave Fipp after being acquired from Chicago at the roster cutdown.

Agudosi and Michel both made some noise at WR in the spring and summer but always faced a touch numbers game at a deep position.

Singleton, a former CFL star, probably deserved a better fate and will likely be headed back to Canada if another NFL team doesn't come calling.

The most likely options for the practice squad of the players waived are Agudosi, Thompkins, Fabiano, Render, Wilkins, and perhaps Hawkins and McKinnon.

The Eagles still have to make 12 cuts by Saturday at 4:00 to reach the league-mandated limit of 53.

Rookie quarterback Clayton Thorson, running backs Wendell Smallwood and Boston Scott, offensive linemen Brett Toth and Sua Opeta are some of the most likely options to go.

The difficult decisions boil down to Josh Adams vs T.J. Edwards (5 RBs vs 6 LBs), Greg Ward vs.Mack  Hollins at receiver, Josh Perkins vs. Alex Ellis at tight end, Stefen Wisniewski vs. Nate Herbig at interior offensive line, Hassan Ridgeway vs. Trayvon Hester Hester at defensive tackle, and Johnathan Cyprien vs Rudy Ford at safety with cornerback Jalen Mills starting on the regular-season PUP list.

Adams is one of the Eagles players generating some trade interest around the league.

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