The 2018 NFL preseason has officially come to an end for the Eagles. As the final seconds ticked off the clock in the Eagles' 10-9 victory over the New York Jets on Thursday at Lincoln Financial Field, the Eagles closed the book on the preseason and officially shifted gears to next week's regular-season opener against Atlanta.
For the veterans on the roster, the next few days will be about rest, recovery, and refocusing on the Falcons. But for the players on the roster bubble, the next few days will be far more uncertain. All NFL teams must trim their rosters to 53 players by 4 p.m. on Saturday, and with the Eagles kicking things off a few days earlier than the rest of the league, there's a chance the roster decisions may come even sooner.
So now that everything has been put on tape and all the cards have been put on the table, there's nothing that the players can do, except wait to learn their fate with the team.
"I'm just going to really try to take my mind off of things," said wide receiver Tim Wilson. "Whatever happens, happens at the end of the day. But I'm going to stay focused. I'm going to prepare like I'm going to make the team and expect to make the team. So I'm just going to get ready for next week."
"Just being patient. It's in God's hands," echoed running back Josh Adams. "It always has been and it always will be. I'm just going to be patient and wait on it and see what happens."
Wilson, an undrafted rookie out of East Stroudsburg, and Adams, a fellow undrafted player out of Notre Dame, will be going through this uncertain time for the first time as professionals. But for DeAndre Carter, who has spent time with five different teams over the past four seasons, it feels all too familiar.
"It's pretty nerve-wracking strictly because I've been through it before and it hasn't really turned out the way I wanted," Carter explained. "But I try to do what I can to relax, take my mind off of it. Maybe catch a movie or something. Just relax and let the chips fall where they may. I've done everything I could, and if it's in God's will for it to happen, it will happen.
"It's just kind of something that I've developed throughout my life. I've been in different situations that I've had to overcome and persevere. I made my brother a promise that I would keep going until I made it, and that's what I'm going to do until I can't anymore."
While most players have had months to put good performances on film in practice and in the preseason games, tight end Anthony Denham had a crash course in this year's preseason. Signed by the Eagles on Tuesday, Denham had just a couple of days to practice before playing in the preseason finale. He does have previous experience with the club (spending most of 2016 on the team's practice squad), and he hopes that he's done enough to push for a roster spot.
"I just knew that I had this opportunity tonight and that's what I took advantage of," Denham said. "I can't think of anything in the future except what I can control, and that was this way now. I just leave it up to the coaches, and hopefully I made their decision hard."
The Philadelphia Eagles finished out the 2018 preseason with a victory over the New York Jets at Lincoln Financial Field. Check out all the photos from the game.
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
RB Darren Sproles
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
RB Corey Clement
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
RB Corey Clement, LB Nigel Bradham
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
S Rodney McLeod
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
QB Nate Sudfeld
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
QB Joe Callahan
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
WR Darius Prince
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
DE Chris Long
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
DE Steven Means
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
DE Chris Long
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
S Malcolm Jenkins
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
QB Christian Hackenberg
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
DE Steven Means
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
QB Carson Wentz
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
QB Carson Wentz
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
TE Billy Brown
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
QB Carson Wentz
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
CB Chandon Sullivan
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
TE Billy Brown
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
QB Joe Callahan
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
S Jeremy Reaves
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
LB Joe Walker
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
Head Coach Doug Pederson
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
Head Coach Doug Pederson
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
WR DeAndre Carter
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
QB Christian Hackenberg
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
Offensive Line/Run Game Coordinator Jeff Stoutland
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
CB Chandon Sullivan
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
CB Chandon Sullivan
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
CB Chandon Sullivan
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
DE Danny Ezechukwu
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
WR Greg Ward
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
WR Rashard Davis
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
P Cameron Johnston
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
T Jordan Mailata
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
QB Christian Hackenberg
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
QB Christian Hackenberg
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
Head Coach Doug Pederson
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
WR Greg Ward
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
K Jake Elliott
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
LB Kyle Wilson
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
LB Kyle Wilson
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
T Jordan Mailata
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
RB Josh Adams
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
Defensive Backs Coach Cory Undlin
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
C Jon Toth
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
QB Joe Callahan
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
RB Matt Jones
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 30, 2018
