I promised another 53-man roster projection for Tuesday, and here I am, delivering the goods. No parades, folks. I'm just doing my job. There are only a couple of changes and one player I didn't like leaving off (not that his presence would change this team). Still heavy at wide receiver. Still think a certain quarterback still has a place here, even if it's on the practice squad.
For those geeked up about having the third position in the waiver wire come cut-down day, here is a reminder that vested veterans (four years or more) are not subjected to claims. They are free to negotiate their own deals. Also, you're largely claiming depth pieces or projects, not someone who could transform your offensive line (for instance). Every once in a while, there's a Danny Woodhead situation. I just reviewed last year's list; it was underwhelming and forgettable.
QUARTERBACKS (3): Jacoby Brissett, Drake Maye, Joe Milton
Practice squad: Bailey Zappe
No changes. Maye showed some promise, but the pendulum swung too far after a 6-for-11, 47-yard performance (23 coming on a screen). He had two throwaways, and two other passes were a mechanical mess (one-handed catch by Boutte, incomplete to Baker on a stick route).
RUNNING BACK (3): Rhamondre Stevenson, Antonio Gibson, Kevin Harris
Stevenson ran hard, even when there was nothing there. Much of his yardage came after contact. I'm not too worried about his fit in this scheme; I know he feels good about it.
JaMychal Hasty was a core special teamer Thursday, but he was responsible for a big play against that unit...
WIDE RECEIVER (7): DeMario Douglas, Ja'Lynn Polk, K.J. Osborn, Jalen Reagor, Tyquan Thornton, Kayshon Boutte, Javon Baker.
PUP: Kendrick Bourne
Thornton continues to rep with the ones. He's not been as consistent as Boutte. Therefore, I'm still keeping seven, even though that's unusual. But as I wrote in the comments last week, they don't have a cut-and-dried 53. I'm willing to place a low-risk bet on a second-rounder with speed in the 4.2s, hoping against hope that he pops.
Baker was subpar on Thursday, and it went far beyond the drop. He got bullied multiple times, including on the go route, which was well-thrown by Maye. I'm not sure if you noticed, but the folks on the beat taking their pants off for Baker got really quiet this weekend. Again, there's lots of promise, but he needs a bounceback week.
I still would like to see more from Osborn. He played on Thursday but didn't do anything of note.
TIGHT END (3): Hunter Henry, Austin Hooper, Jaheim Bell
Bell couldn't block to save his life Thursday. Granted, that won't be his primary gig, but he's got to get better than that. As for the three-TD performance on Sunday that had folks all hot and bothered, it wasn't as if he did anything extraordinary to get open. They were all plays in the flat. Nice to have that as a confidence booster, but he's a long way from being someone you can count on. Hooper showed a lack of feel in the end zone on that Brissett interception. He basically stopped moving. For goodness' sake, he's not Shaquille O'Neal pinning a defender on his hip. Henry's absence doesn't sound like a long-term thing, but Jerod Mayo didn't say with absolute certainty that Henry would be back for week one. Gulp.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9): David Andrews, Mike Onwenu, Chuks Okorafor, Sidy Sow, Vederian Lowe, Layden Robinson, Nick Leverett, Caedan Wallace, Michael Jordan
IR/PUP: Cole Strange
Is declaring a player to be named later cheating? Perhaps, but I remain disappointed and concerned with this group and how they've played and seriously considered it. In addition to a lack of high-end talent, I keep going back to how my NFL sources were openly wondering if the personnel would be effective in this scheme. Thus far, the answer is no, despite what the team has been trying to feed us the last few days.
DEFENSIVE LINE (10): Davon Godchaux, Keion White, Josh Uche, Anfernee Jennings, Deatrich Wise, Daniel Ekuale, Jeremiah Pharms Jr., Mike Purcell, Oshane Ximenes, Armon Watts
IR: Christian Barmore
So Matthew Judon finally got dealt. That took too long, but at least that saga is over. So, who fills his spot? White should get more reps, and if they decide to kick him inside on obvious passing downs, Wise could get more reps on the edge, or perhaps it's Ximenes who continues to show up daily (though he's been out with a lower leg injury since Thursday).
Uche continues to be a weird evaluation this summer, although his playing three quarters Thursday was necessary because of how few reps he had gotten over the first 10 days or so of camp (he was likely dealing with some type of injury). But then he was back to being a no-go at practice.
The interior is uncertain. Godchaux is a given - he's had a good camp - but Ekuale took a step back against the Eagles, as did bubble boy Trysten Hill. On the other hand, Pharms is now a stone-cold lock, although I'm not sure what his ceiling is (undersized effort-player). Still, love the all-out effort.
LINEBACKER (4): Ja'Whaun Bentley, Jahlani Tavai, Raekwon McMillian, Christian Elliss
IR: Sione Takitaki
Still bothers me to leave off Joe Giles-Harris, but he could have a date with the practice squad.
McMillian was an absolute wrecking ball against the Eagles. Inside. Off the edge. Don't recall seeing him that active and explosive in his injury-riddled time with the Pats. He could slide into the Mack Wilson role this year, including some pass-rushing reps. Something to keep an eye on here.
Tavai showed excellent coverage range Thursday, covering up a wheel route out of the backfield. I'm getting to the point where I'd be surprised if he doesn't play well again this year.
Elliss has been a core special teamer in the first two preseason games. McMillian, too.
CORNERBACKS (7): Christian Gonzalez, Jonathan Jones, Marcus Jones, Shaun Wade, Alex Austin, Isaiah Bolden, Marco Wilson
Marco Wilson, welcome to the club. He was solid Thursday, and rookie Marcella Dial Jr. was not. The book on Dial coming out of South Carolina was that he was always in the ballpark but just didn't make enough plays on the ball. That is a fair assessment to this point.
Gonzalez's blah summer continued Thursday. I thought he was solid in the joint practice Tuesday, but then he got toasted by the recently unretired John Ross on that opening series. He lived to tell about it because Kenny Pickett overthrew the ball. I'd like to see him turn it up. I know the staff wants him to.
SAFETY (3): Jabril Peppers, Kyle Dugger, Jaylinn Hawkins
IR: Marte Mapu
UDFA Dell Pettus should be a practice squad keeper.
No changes here.
SPECIALISTS (4): Joey Slye, Bryce Baringer, Joe Cardona, Brenden Schooler
Slye bumps ahead of Chad Ryland after hitting a pair of field goals Thursday, including one with room to spare from 51 yards.