Eagles’ 53-man roster is Howie Roseman’s most talented. But will it be the best team? | Jeff McLane

Howie Roseman knocked on the lectern at the NovaCare Complex. The general manager had just mentioned that the Eagles’ soft-tissue injuries were down this summer at training camp, but the knock-on-wood gesture could have also been applied when he was asked about his team following Saturday’s roster cuts.

“I think we have a lot of talent,” Roseman said. “The question is how we come together as a football team.”

Roseman knows as well as anyone the uncertainty that lies ahead. Two years ago, the Eagles endured a series of injuries, the most potentially devasting to quarterback Carson Wentz, and they still went on to win a Super Bowl. Last year, however, the setbacks increased tenfold, and while the Eagles rallied late, they fell short of repeating.

This year’s squad is on paper as deep as any Roseman has assembled in the last decade. Players who made contributions over the previous years, such as guard Stefen Wisniewski, running backs Josh Adams and Wendell Smallwood, and defensive tackle Treyvon Hester, didn’t make the cut.

But the trims the Eagles made as they got to 53 were mostly devoid of drama. The entire summer felt that way. The only significant development was backup quarterback Nate Sudfeld’s broken wrist and the subsequent signing of veteran Josh McCown.

Adversity, Roseman said, was sure to come. The talent and depth of the roster will help the Eagles overcome various obstacles. But they can take the team only so far.

“We think that we have the right character and right leadership on this team, on the coaching staff, and on the field to do that,” Roseman said. “But now we have to go show that.”

Here’s a look of the Eagles’ initial 53-man roster for 2019, with the understanding that changes could be made over the next several days. Roseman can start claiming players off waivers and constructing the practice squad of 10 on Sunday. But the heart of the team is set, and with the season set to open in one week against the Redskins, hope springs eternal.

Quarterbacks (3): Carson Wentz, Josh McCown, Nate Sudfeld.

The Eagles, somehow, are stronger at quarterback than they were before injuries to Sudfeld and Cody Kessler. The injuries forced them to sign McCown, who gives the team a more experienced backup to Wentz. Roseman said that the acquisition made Clayton Thorson expendable. There may be a modicum of truth to that statement, but the rookie had struggled so much that it became increasingly clear that he probably wasn’t worth wasting a roster spot. Thorson should clear waivers and land on the practice squad.

» READ MORE: See the Eagles' 53-man roster

Running backs (4): Miles Sanders, Jordan Howard, Darren Sproles, Corey Clement.

This position looks better than it did a year ago, especially after injuries forced Adams and Smallwood into prominent roles. Both running backs could land on other rosters, but neither excelled so much in one skill or was versatile enough to squeak onto the Eagles.

Wide receivers (5): Alshon Jeffery, DeSean Jackson, Nelson Agholor, J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, Mack Hollins.

The top three here give Wentz his most talented set of receivers. Arcega-Whiteside gives the Eagles a promising rookie to develop. Hollins, after missing last season following two groin surgeries, survived. Greg Ward outplayed him on offense, but as Roseman said, he didn’t contribute enough on special teams to win the fifth receiver spot.

Tight ends (2): Zach Ertz, Dallas Goedert.

You have to go back to the Andy Reid era for the last time the Eagles kept just two tight ends. Roseman said he would scour other avenues for another tight end, but he also noted that Pederson could pluck from other positions – likely the offensive line – for a third blocker in “13” personnel. Richard Rodgers was placed on injured reserve Friday, likely to be eventually waived with an injury settlement. Joshua Perkins just didn’t perform well enough.

Offensive linemen (10): Jason Peters, Jason Kelce, Lane Johnson, Brandon Brooks, Isaac Seumalo, Halapoulivaati Vaitai, Andre Dillard, Jordan Mailata, Matt Pryor, Nate Herbig.

The starting five, as soon as Brooks returns from an Achilles tendon rupture, is among the best groups in the NFL. Vaitai is a competent stand-in and versatile backup, and Dillard may be ready to play if Peters is sidelined. Mailata and Pryor need work, but they’re still young. Herbig, an undrafted rookie, beat out Wisniewski as the swing interior reserve.

» READ MORE: For some, the end of August is the end

Defensive ends (6): Brandon Graham, Derek Barnett, Vinny Curry, Josh Sweat, Shareef Miller, Daeshon Hall.

Barnett, aside from Wentz, enters the season with the greatest amount of pressure. The former first-round pick has the potential, but he will be expected more than any other end to offset the loss of Michael Bennett and Chris Long. Curry could benefit from fewer snaps, but Sweat, Miller, and Hall are unproven.

Defensive tackles (4): Fletcher Cox, Malik Jackson, Tim Jernigan, Hassan Ridgeway.

Roseman said that it was fair to presume that keeping just four tackles was a vote of confidence for Cox’s readiness for Week 1. The All-Pro is the linchpin up front, but the addition of Jackson and yjr healthy return of Jernigan should only increase Cox’s productivity. Ridgeway edged out Hester, who may be the most likely Eagles castoff to be claimed off waivers.

Linebackers (6): Nigel Bradham, Kamu Grugier-Hill, Nate Gerry, Zach Brown, L.J. Fort, T.J. Edwards.

There is legitimate concern about this group, which has been increased by Bradham’s lingering foot injury and Grugier-Hill’s uncertain return from an MCL sprain. The Eagles will play three linebackers together only about 20 percent of the time, but they were concerned enough about depth to retain undrafted rookie T.J. Edwards.

Cornerbacks (5): Ronald Darby, Sidney Jones, Rasul Douglas, Avonte Maddox, Cre’Von LeBlanc.

Jalen Mills (foot), to no surprise, will open the season on the physically unable to perform list, which means he can’t play until at least Week 7. Darby (knee) should be given the green light by the opener, but LeBlanc (foot) could be placed on injured reserve-designated to return sometime over the next few days. Jones, Douglas, and Maddox have all had their moments in prime time, but there could be additional growing pains at one of the more unforgiving positions in the NFL. Roseman could be on the hunt for another cornerback this week.

Safeties (5): Malcolm Jenkins, Rodney McLeod, Andrew Sendejo, Johnathan Cyprien, Rudy Ford.

Roseman called Sendejo one of the biggest surprises off the offseason, although the expectation was always that he’d be the third safety. Retaining Cyprien or Ford wasn’t a shock, but keeping both was because neither was on the roster five weeks ago. Ford, who was acquired in a trade last week, didn’t even play in the fourth preseason game because of injury. But the Eagles need special-teams contributors at safety.

Specialists (3): Jake Elliott, Cameron Johnston, Rick Lovato.

Elliott was inconsistent in the summer, but as long as he keeps nailing clutch kicks and 50-plus-yard field goals, he should remain safe.