The Thomas Mott Show

Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman made a difficult roster decision today by waiving running back Carson Steele ahead of final cutdowns. 🦅📈

Steele was arguably the standout performer on offense throughout the entire August slate. Operating as a physical runner, he consistently dragged defenders, picked up hard-nosed yards, and made a compelling case for a spot on the 53-man squad. 🔒

However, the numbers in Philadelphia's backfield ultimately forced the move. With star starter Saquon Barkley, explosive backup Tank Bigsby, and rookie versatile threat Will Shipley taking up the primary depth spots, carrying a fourth tailback was an impossible trade-off. 🔄

Steele now hits the waiver wire, where the Eagles hope he goes unclaimed so they can sign him back to the practice squad. Given the film he put together this month, retaining him will be a challenge. 🏈

Drop a comment below and let me know: Should Howie Roseman have found a way to keep Carson Steele on the 53-man roster? 👇🦅

These struggled again vs the Bengals... and I think it made the roster cuts a LOT clearer... Full show: https://youtu.be/j5lL8OnjgPU

Eagles first-round pick Makai Lemon finally took the field against the Cincinnati Bengals, but a frustrating stat line has some fans reacting prematurely. 🦅📈

Lemon ended his debut with 3 catches for 3 yards and a tipped pass that led to a Cincinnati interception. However, context is everything when evaluating his first live snaps in Philadelphia. Tanner McKee struggled with accuracy throughout the drive, delivering the ball late on the interception rep and forcing Lemon to reach backward while in mid-air. 🔒

Additionally, Lemon missed virtually all of training camp while rehabbing a recurring hamstring injury. Stepping into live game action without established timing with the backup quarterbacks inevitably leads to some initial rust. 🔄

Despite the quiet box score, Lemon showed off his signature route running on multiple reps, proving that the raw separation ability remains intact once the offense settles in. 🏈

Drop a comment below and let me know: Are you worried about Makai Lemon, or are you giving him a pass for some preseason rust? 👇🦅

Philadelphia’s front office continued to rework the margins of the roster today by signing wide receiver Tahj Washington and waiving Brandon Hayes. 🦅📈

Washington originally entered the league as a seventh-round pick by the Miami Dolphins in 2024 following a stellar collegiate career at USC. During his final season with the Trojans, he surpassed 1,000 receiving yards and caught 8 touchdowns while averaging 18 yards per reception as Caleb Williams’ primary deep threat. 🔒

After spending his rookie year on injured reserve and seeing limited action in Miami last season, Washington became available earlier this week, prompting Howie Roseman to quickly move on the speedster. 🔄

While the top of Philadelphia's wide receiver depth chart is solidified, adding Washington's game-breaking speed provides valuable competition for the final roster spots and practice squad unit ahead of the regular season. 🏈

Drop a comment below and let me know if you think Tahj Washington can win a spot on the final 53! 👇🦅

I think the open practice silenced a LOT of narratives 👀 Full Show here: https://youtu.be/6H4qAZGBt2k

The Philadelphia Eagles put on a show in front of 45,000 passionate fans during Tuesday night’s open practice at Lincoln Financial Field. 🦅📈

The featured 11-on-11 scrimmage period showcased major growth for the offense under coordinator Sean Mannion. Jalen Hurts opened the session with a precision touchdown pass dropped right into Saquon Barkley’s hands, later connecting with Hollywood Brown on a deep crosser. Rookie wide receiver Makai Lemon also stood out, generating consistent separation against physical secondary coverage. 🔒

However, Vic Fangio’s defense made its presence felt as well. Cornerback Riq Woolen delivered the play of the night by undercutting a route to DeVonta Smith for a pick-six, followed by a second interception on a pass intended for Lemon. 🔄

With the secondary making big plays and Jalen Hurts dialing in his targets, the overall progression from the start of camp to now is unmistakable. 🏈

Drop a comment below and let me know if you think Riq Woolen and Quinyon Mitchell will form a top-5 corner duo in the NFL! 👇🦅

As final roster cutdowns approach, general manager Howie Roseman could look to execute a few strategic trades to refine the 53-man roster. 🦅📈With offensive line depth bolstered by rookie Markel Bell, veteran swing tackle Fred Johnson could be traded to the Rams for tight end Davis Allen. Allen’s size provides an ideal upgrade at TE3 behind Dallas Goedert. Meanwhile, sending backup quarterback Andy Dalton to the Patriots in exchange for wide receiver Mack Hollins gives New England a mentor for Drake Maye while returning a physical, 6'4 blocking receiver to Philly. 🔒 Additionally, with depth locked down in the secondary, cornerback Kelee Ringo could be dealt to Tampa Bay for draft compensation. Flipping surplus players for future assets is a staple of Roseman’s front-office strategy. 🔄Drop a comment below and let me know which of these three trades you want to see Howie pull off first! 👇🦅

Rookie wide receiver Makai Lemon made his return to full pads at Eagles practice, immediately stepping into first team reps with Jalen Hurts. 🦅📈

The first-round draft pick had been sidelined through joint practices and early preseason action due to a nagging hamstring injury. Upon his return, offensive coordinator Sean Mannion placed him directly into the main rotation, utilizing motion concepts to create free releases and targeting him over the middle of the field. 🔒

Lemon displayed the signature quickness and sharp route running that defined his college film, generating instant separation after the snap and providing a element this offense missed during his absence. 🔄

With less than three weeks until the season opener, his immediate immersion into the primary scheme confirms that the coaching staff views him as a focal point for 2026. 🏈

Drop a comment below and let me know: how many touches do you expect Makai Lemon to get in Week 1? 👇🦅

The early film on Sean Mannion’s offensive scheme in Philadelphia shows a night-and-day difference from what Birds fans are used to seeing. 🦅📈 Even with a scaled-down preseason playbook, the tactical changes are obvious on tape. Mannion is utilizing pre-snap motion to dictate coverages, opening up mid-range crossing routes that stress secondary defenders. In the run game, the outside zone scheme is creating wide-open lanes for Will Shipley, allowing him to burst into the secondary. 🔒 The play-action passing attack is also heavily upgraded. By lining up under center and faking the zone run, the offense is getting linebackers out of position and finding receivers like Darius Cooper completely unaccounted for on crossing patterns. 🔄 Perhaps most importantly, pre-snap adjustments are back on display. Against a blitz, Tanner McKee recognized the free rusher and immediately hit Carson Steele on a hot route for a touchdown. The detail work is evident across every single drive. 🏈 Drop a comment below and let me know if you think Sean Mannion will transform this Eagles offense! 👇🦅