Eagles release veteran cornerback Ron Brooks

The Eagles released cornerback Ron Brooks on Wednesday, a decision that has implications on which players the team will use at slot cornerback this season. They also waived cornerback Mitchell White and signed linebackers Carlos Fields and Christian Tago.

Brooks, 28, signed with the Eagles last offseason and was their starting slot cornerback and a core special-teams player before suffering a ruptured quadriceps tendon in the sixth game. He was placed on injured reserve and was still recovering during the spring. Brooks has been slowed by a hamstring injury since the first preseason game.

Veteran Patrick Robinson has since moved to slot cornerback, and Robinson would appear to have the edge to enter the season in that role. Robinson, a journeyman who was a first-round pick by the New Orleans Saints, has inside-outside ability. So he can fill in as an outside cornerback if the Eagles need  him there. Robinson started camp as a starting outside cornerback.

The Eagles could also use a safety such as Malcolm Jenkins in that role, especially against bigger wide receivers or tight ends. Jenkins has played in the slot the last two seasons, replacing Brooks last year.

Dexter McDougle, who was acquired from the Jets this week, could play the slot if he makes the team, too. There is also the chance that the Eagles add a cornerback in the coming days.

By releasing Brooks, the Eagles save $750,000 against the salary cap.

Fields, 26, has played in six NFL games with Indianapolis and Washington. He has spent time with eight teams. Fields is 6-foot-1 and 248 pounds and went undrafted out of Winston-Salem State in 2014. Tago is an undrafted rookie out of San Jose State who spent time with the Atlanta Falcons earlier this summer.

With injured reserve linebackers such as Najee Goode and Nate Gerry, the Eagles likely need some depth at the position for Thursday night's preseason finale against the Jets.