The Philadelphia Eagles and head coach Andy Reid didn’t need to wait until 4 PM, the deadline for all NFL teams to cut their rosters down to 75 players. With Cliff Harris already out the door and four moves needing to be made, the team put defensive tackle Mike Patterson on the non-football illness list and offensive tackle Jason Peters on the non-football injury list while placing Mike Gibson on IR with a hip flexor and cutting wide receiver Jamel Hamler.
According to Reuben Frank (@RoobCSN), via Twitter, the moves are official:
Eagles have officially placed Patterson on Non-Football Illness list and Jason Peters on Non-Football Injury list. Cut Hamler, Gibson.
— Reuben Frank (@RoobCSN) August 27, 2012
Hamler scores a preseason TD against Pittsburgh (via Getty Images).
The first two mentioned, the placement of Patterson and Peters on non-football inactive lists, make a lot of sense given that more room is made for other players to break through and make the team. Neither—especially Patterson—is likely to play more than a game or two this season, so using up roster spots at the expense of other players just wouldn’t be equitable.
Gibson, our 2008 sixth-round pick, has been battling injuries and was deftly moved aside as Andy Reid once again stayed away from rash, controversial decisions early in the cutting period. Hamler, a 2011 practice squad member who played well in preseason—five catches, 52 yards and a touchdown—was simply unlucky given the depth Philadelphia has at the wide receiver position.
Final cuts are Friday at 9 PM, with the team having to part ways with 24 players to meet the league’s maximum of 53 players. By not cutting any big names like Riley Cooper, Jaiquawn Jarrett or Brandon Washington, the Eagles coaching staff have kept up the suspense that will make Friday night an interesting one.
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