Philadelphia Eagles 2026 Training Camp: Who Makes the Team? A Simple Guide to the Bubble Players

Think of an NFL roster like a school bus with only 53 seats. Some kids (players) have guaranteed seats (Locks). Some are almost sure to sit down (Not-Quite-Locks). Then there is a big group of kids fighting for the last 10 seats—these are the Bubble Players. This article explains who they are and who has the best chance of grabbing a seat.

How the Roster Works (ELI5 Version)

Before we meet the players, let’s define the teams:

The Numbers Game

Last week, the analysts at PhillyVoice sorted the entire Eagles training camp roster into four buckets:

• 43 Players: Locks or Not-Quite-Locks (Seats already taken).
• 27 Players: Bubble Players (Fighting for the last seats).
• 21 Players: Long Shots (Unlikely to make the bus).

The Math: 53 total spots – 43 locks = ~10 open spots for 27 bubble players.

Meet the Bubble Players: Power Ranked by Chances

We have grouped the 27 bubble players into tiers to make it easier to follow.

Tier 1: "Don’t Bet Against Them" (Ranks 1–4)

These players have inside tracks due to draft status, scheme fit, or lack of depth behind them.

1. iDL Ty Robinson (Interior Defensive Lineman)
   • Why he’s #1: He was a high 4th-round pick last year (teams hate wasting draft capital). He started camp with the "developmental" group but has steadily earned better reps and improved. The Eagles have questionable depth behind their top 4 interior linemen, so they need him to develop.
2. RB Will Shipley (Running Back)
   • Why he’s #2: He lost the RB2 job last year (leading to the trade for Tank Bigsby), but he brings special teams value: he returns kicks and is the "personal protector" (the last line of defense) on punts. He’s a recent draft pick the front office wants to keep developing.
3. iOL Willie Lampkin (Interior Offensive Lineman)
   • Why he’s #3: The Rams made a paperwork mistake last year (waiving him injured instead of using Injured Reserve), so GM Howie Roseman snatched him up. He spent 2025 on IR healing. At a listed 5’11" (generously), he’s small but has played really well this camp, making a strong case for a backup guard/center spot.
4. EDGE A.J. Epenesa (Edge Rusher)
   • Why he’s #4: He is a proven NFL pass rusher. He failed a physical with the Browns earlier this offseason but looks healthy now. The Eagles love stockpiling edge rushers, and they really need depth because starter Jonathan Greenard is expected to be out "another couple of weeks, at least" (per Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio).

Tier 2: "Strong Contenders, But…" (Ranks 5–8)

Good players facing roster crunches or injury setbacks.

1. OG Micah Morris (Offensive Guard)
   • Missed some camp time, but is an athletic developmental prospect who hasn’t looked overwhelmed.
2. iDL Uar Bernard (Interior Defensive Lineman)
   • Fangio says he has "light years" to go (he is very raw). However, Howie Roseman loves his power/athleticism. The Eagles might try to "redshirt" him on IR (stash him for the year), but they likely won’t risk cutting him and losing him on waivers.
3. CB Jonathan Jones (Cornerback)
   • Was a lock for the 53 until a recent injury. Fangio says he’ll be out "a while." He is experienced and can play both inside (slot) and outside. Still likely makes it, but confidence dropped slightly.
4. CB Mac McWilliams (Cornerback)
   • Beneficiary of Jones’ injury. Also plays inside and outside. Needs more experience ("seasoning"), but the door is cracked open for him now.

Tier 3: "Talented, But Position Is Crowded" (Ranks 9–12)

Good NFL players stuck in a numbers game at Wide Receiver and Quarterback.

1. WR Elijah Moore (Wide Receiver)
   • Has caught everything thrown his way in camp. He is a legitimate NFL receiver. The problem: How many WRs can the team keep? (Usually 5 or 6).
2. QB Andy Dalton (Quarterback)
   • Started camp strong, but has been shaky recently. If the Eagles like rookie Cole Payton enough to keep him as QB3, they will try to trade one of the two "co-QB2s" (Dalton or Tanner McKee). The bet here is Dalton gets traded.
3. WR Johnny Wilson (Wide Receiver)
   • Unique trait: 6’6", 230+ lbs. He is a great perimeter blocker for the run game. The problem: Fellow rookie Darius Cooper has outperformed him for that specific "dirty work" role. Keeping both is possible but tough due to roster limits.
4. LS Rocco Underwood (Long Snapper)
   • No competition in camp. But… he has had multiple bad punt snaps and is imprecise on field goals. 6 other NFL teams have two long snappers in camp; the Eagles will likely poach one after final cuts.

Tier 4: "Facing an Uphill Battle" (Ranks 13–17)

Veterans or draft picks where the math or performance doesn’t favor them.

1. CB Kelee Ringo (Cornerback)
   • Was fighting for a starting job last year; now fighting for a roster spot. He is an elite gunner (the guy who sprints downfield on punts to tackle the returner). Question: Is being a great gunner enough to warrant a precious 53-man spot?
2. OL Myles Hinton (Offensive Line)
   • Team tried cross-training him at Tackle and Guard. He has mostly been stuck with the 3rd string (the "C-team").
3. WR Britain Covey (Wide Receiver / Returner)
   • The primary punt returner. He is a Vested Veteran (4+ years exp). Key Loophole: If cut, he doesn’t go through waivers. The Eagles can cut him, sign him to the practice squad, and call him up just for game days.
4. TE Grant Calcaterra (Tight End)
   • Numbers crunch. The top 4 TE spots are likely locked: Dallas Goedert, Johnny Mundt, Eli Stowers, Cameron Latu. Keeping a 5th TE is very hard.
5. RB Dameon Pierce (Running Back)
   • Looked like a threat to Shipley for RB3, but an injury killed his momentum. He is a candidate to be stashed on the practice squad and called up if someone gets hurt.

Tier 5: "Injury / Availability Concerns" (Ranks 18–22)

Players who haven’t been on the field enough to earn a spot.

1. CB Cole Wisniewski – Missed 9 of 11 practices.
2. EDGE Keyshawn James-Newby – Missed 8 of 11 practices.
3. EDGE Joshua Weru – An "athletic freak" further along than Bernard, but lower priority for the front office to retain at all costs.
4. OT Cameron Williams (Offensive Tackle)
   • Rookie draft pick with a rough camp; not much improvement seen. Eagles are patient with O-linemen, but currently projected for Practice Squad. Good preseason games could change this.
5. S Maximus Pulley (Safety)
   • Smart player (diagnoses plays well, triggers downhill vs run). But unlikely to be claimed by another team if cut, so he’s a prime Practice Squad candidate unless he has "preseason heroics."

Tier 6: "Practice Squad Favorites" (Ranks 23–27)

Players the team likes, but who can likely be "stashed" safely because other teams won’t claim them.

1. iDL Gabe Hall – Been on practice squad long enough with no outside interest; safe to bring back again.
2. SCB/S Kapena Gushiken (Slot Corner / Safety) – "Feisty" with speed, but hasn’t done enough for the 53 yet.
3. OG Michael Jordan – Described as "This year’s Kendall Lamm" (a veteran swing tackle/guard signed late as emergency depth, usually cut before Week 1).
4. TE E.J. Jenkins – Great size/athleticism/blocking, but victim of the TE numbers crunch.
5. iOL Jake Majors (Interior Offensive Lineman) – Analyst doesn’t "see the appeal," but he has gotten significant 2nd-team reps (a confusing signal).

Important Points to Remember

The "Vested Vet" Loophole: Players like Britain Covey (and potentially Michael Jordan) can be cut without fear of losing them to another team. This gives the Eagles flexibility to keep a younger "bubble" player (like a Robinson or Bernard) on the 53-man roster initially, then bring the vet back 24 hours later.

The "Redshirt" IR Strategy: For players like Uar Bernard or Cameron Williams, the team might use an Injured Reserve (IR) designation to hide them for the year if they are injured, or simply stash them on the Practice Squad if healthy but raw.

Positional Math is King: The two tightest numbers games are Wide Receiver (Moore, Wilson, Covey, Cooper fighting for ~5-6 spots) and Tight End (Calcaterra, Jenkins fighting for a potential 5th spot).

Preseason Games Matter Most for the Bottom Half: Players ranked 18–27 basically need standout performances in the actual preseason games to jump the line.

Summary

The Eagles have ~10 spots for 27 bubble players.

• Top 4 (Robinson, Shipley, Lampkin, Epenesa) are near-locks due to draft investment, special teams value, or scheme necessity (Greenard injury).
• The Middle Tier (5–12) are legitimate NFL players squeezed by roster math (too many good WRs, QBs, CBs) or injury timing.
• The Bottom Tier (13–27) are fighting for Practice Squad spots. Veterans like Covey and Ringo have unique contract statuses (Vested Vet / Special Teams ace) that change how the team manages them.
• Watch the Waiver Wire: After cuts (usually late August), Howie Roseman will likely claim a Long Snapper and potentially an Edge Rusher or O-Lineman from other teams’ cuts.

FAQ: Your Burning Questions Answered

1. What exactly is the "Practice Squad" and why does it matter?
Think of it as the Junior Varsity (JV) team. It holds 16 players. They practice with the team but don’t play in games (unless "elevated" for a max of 3 games per year). It matters because it lets the Eagles keep young players they like (like Bernard or Hall) without using a precious 53-man roster spot. Risk: Other teams can poach them for their active 53-man roster.

2. Why would the Eagles cut a good player like Britain Covey?
Salary Cap & Roster Flexibility. Covey is a "Vested Veteran." If they cut him Tuesday, he hits the open market Wednesday. Since no team usually claims a 30-year-old returner mid-season for a big contract, he clears waivers. The Eagles sign him back to the Practice Squad Thursday. This frees up a 53-man spot for a younger player (like a 2nd-year DL) for the first few weeks.

3. What does "Failed a Physical" mean for A.J. Epenesa?
When a free agent signs, they take a medical exam. Epenesa failed his with the Browns (likely due to a pre-existing injury), so the contract was voided. He then signed with the Eagles. The fact that he is practicing fully now suggests the Eagles’ doctors disagreed with the Browns’ assessment, or he has healed.

4. Why is "Gunner" so important for Kelee Ringo?
A Gunner is the special teams sprinter lined up near the sideline on punts. Their only job is to beat blockers and tackle the returner. It is a high-value, specific skill. If Ringo is elite at only this, the team must decide: Is one special teams play per game worth a roster spot over a backup safety or 6th WR who contributes on offense too?

5. When do we find out the final 53?
NFL teams must cut from 90 to 53 players by 4:00 PM ET on the Tuesday after the final preseason game (usually late August). That is when the "Bubble" pops