PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles have done more than recover from a gritty opening‑night win over Dallas. With an eye on roster flexibility, general manager Howie Roseman and coach Nick Sirianni spent their Monday lining up a small army of prospective reinforcements and making several moves.
Two days after signing veteran pass rusher Za’Darius Smith to a one‑year contract, the team brought in seven free agents for workouts and reshuffled its active and practice squads — the latest churn in a young season that already has tested the Birds’ depth.
In addition to signing Smith, 33, a three-time Pro Bowl edge rusher, they waived guard Kenyon Green, whom they acquired in the C.J. Gardner-Johnson trade. They promoted outside linebacker Patrick Johnson and reorganized their practice squad. And they hosted veteran slot cornerback Mike Hilton, wide receivers K.J. Osborn and Quez Watkins, edge rusher Isaiah Foskey, linebacker Jamin Davis, offensive lineman LaDarius Henderson and tackle Kadeem Telfort, according to multiple reports.
The Eagles also signed running back Montrell Johnson and offensive lineman Hollin Pierce to the practice squad. Johnson, who spent much of the summer with the team, rushed for 77 yards and a touchdown on 21 preseason carries and had 47 yards on two kick returns. He could provide some short-term relief behind Saquon Barkley after second-year running back Will Shipley, who has steadily developed after the Birds drafted him out of Clemson, suffered a rib injury against the Cowboys.
Osborn, a former Viking, and Watkins, a sixth‑round pick of the Eagles in 2020 who spent last season with Detroit, would bolster the back end of the receiving corps.
Hilton, an eight‑year veteran who was released by Miami during final cuts, could possibly replace DeJean at nickel so he can move to the second outside corner spot, opposite Quinyon Mitchell, where Adoree’ Jackson has struggled and Jakorian Bennett and Kelee Ringo haven’t done enough to wrest the job away from him.
Foskey and Davis — both recent first‑round picks who had fallen out of favor with the Saints and Commanders — represent intriguing reclamation projects. Henderson and Telfort, both big, athletic linemen, would provide additional depth options in place of Green.
Sirianni declined to confirm the workouts or speculate on whether they could lead to signings, and stopped short of criticizing Jackson’s rocky opener at corner, in which he gave up several chunk plays and committed pass interference.
“It’s never, ‘Hey, this happened because of this player,’” Sirianni said. “We all had positives and negatives. That’s every player and coach. You go back to work and try to get better.”
Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio was asked during training camp what would be required for DeJean to move to the second outside corner spot. His response: “Someone to develop at the nickel position and someone not to develop at the corner position. … We haven’t seen Cooper play any (outside) corner either, other than NCAA ball.”
It’s clear nobody has developed at that outside cornerback spot, but no one on the roster as of Monday has shown an ability to replace DeJean at nickel.
“He’s one of the best nickels in the NFL with the way he plays these football games with his physicality, with his ability to match routes, with his ability to use his mind and think of how routes are coming at him,” Sirianni said. “I just think he can do a lot of things there.”
Smith’s contract is for one year; his signing underscores the front office’s willingness to stockpile pass rushers.
“I love that about Howie,” Sirianni said. “He’s constantly doing everything he can to help improve this football team … and you coach that talent hard and push them to get better.”
Sirianni acknowledged that dressing six or seven outside linebackers for game day wouldn’t happen, noting that Azeez Ojulari was inactive against Dallas despite a strong preseason.
Defensively, Sirianni highlighted linebacker Jihaad Campbell’s speed and range, saying the rookie “did some really nice things” but still has “things to work on.” He was equally effusive about special teams, citing the unit’s kickoff coverage against Dallas returner KaVontae Turpin.
“I get fired up about block destruction and tackling,” he said.
He also complimented punter Braden Mann and kicker Jake Elliott for their placement and again singled out veteran linebacker Zack Baun for chasing down Cowboys running back Miles Sanders on a long run.
“We’re always looking for ways to show our toughness and physicality,” he said.
They’ll get another chance to show it Sunday in Kansas City in a Super Bowl “rematch” against the Chiefs.
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Follow Christiaan DeFranco on X at @the_defranc.
https://www.mcall.com/2025/09/08/birds-explore-roster-upgrades-replacement-at-cornerback/
