Okay, here's where we begin making roster cuts and playing the numbers games. Roll calls will lead to tough conversations and even tougher decisions. The Philadelphia Eagles must trim their roster to 53 men by 4 pm EST on Tuesday.
One of the position groups we placed under the microscope will be discussed constantly until then. Certainly, we'll all be debating the talent at every position group, but when have we ever ignored an opportunity to talk about wide receivers?
The conversation has been relatively consistent. Most expect that six wide receivers will be retained on the initial regular-season roster. No one questions A.J. Brown or DeVonta Smith's ability. We have questioned the guys on the depth chart behind them constantly.
One of those guys is Parris Campbell. Much has changed since he first arrived. That leads us to a question. What are the chances that he'll be left off of the roster?
Parris Campbell's chances of making the Eagles roster seem to have dwindled, and now no one should be shocked if he is released.
Think back to March. No one knew what to make of Parris Campbell's addition when he was signed. Some thought he was a speedster that could contribute immediately. Some saw him as a slightly better version of Quez Watkins, a nice talent but also a waste of raw potential.
Philly had added DeVante Parker a week earlier on March 14. Many of us had higher grades on him, but he retired, placing Campbell back in the spotlight.
Campbell developed some obvious chemistry with Jalen Hurts, so we thought maybe he'd be Philly's third wide receiver, but he missed time during training camp with an injury. Britain Covey and Johnny Wilson emerged... And, then, Philly added Jahan Dotson.
We elevated Dotson past Cambell on the depth chart, so let's count receivers. We need six, right? We're thinking A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Jahan Dotson, Johnny Wilson, and Britain Covey will make the Eagles roster. Might that mean Austin Watkins, Ainias Smith, John Ross, Joseph Ngata, Griffin Hebert, and Jacob Harris have all been competing for one job?
Maybe Campbell outranks all of those guys. Perhaps Philly values John Ross and see him as a better player, but what if Smith is kept simply by virtue of being drafted by this organization last April?
Those are some of the questions that will be asked all week. Parris Campbell didn't play in Philly's first or second preseason game. He caught two passes on his only two targets during the third. That resulted in 34 yards receiving and a 17-yards-per-reception average, but is that enough to guarantee him a spot on the 53-man roster?
There is also this to consider. The slot receiver in Kellen Moore's offense had better know how to block, and we aren't sure that Parris Campbell can do that consistently. Britain Covey and John Ross probably can't either, but we've seen solid play by the former and more than we've seen from Campbell by watching the latter,
Jahan Dotson's addition may have made Campbell seemingly expendable. We won't be surprised if Campbell lands on the roster though. We also won't be shocked if he's one of those final (and tough) cuts.
