Eagles’ $5 Million Playmaker at Risk of Being Cut: Analyst

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 02: Trey Sermon #34 of the Philadelphia Eagles leaps over Devin Lloyd #33 of the Jacksonville Jaguars during the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on October 02, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

The Philadelphia Eagles may have too many quality running backs on their roster.

A number of veterans will enter training camp on the roster bubble for Philadelphia, according to Glenn Erby of Eagles Wire. One of those players is none other than Trey Sermon, the former San Francisco 49ers back who has been with the Eagles since being claimed off waivers prior to the start of last season.

Eagles Have Depth at Running Back

On game days, Sermon struggled to make it to the active roster, with Miles Sanders, Boston Scott and Kenneth Gainwell ahead of him on the depth chart. He appeared in just two games, recording just two carries for 14 yards in eight offensive snaps. In 11 games and two appearances across his first two seasons, Sermon has just 43 carries for 186 rushing yards and one touchdown.

Erby suggested that Sermon would once again have a difficult time this season, with the third-year back facing increased competition from newcomers D’Andre Swift and Rashaad Penny.

“Philadelphia has six running backs on the roster after signing Rashaad Penny in free agency and trading for D’Andre Swift,” Erby wrote in a story July 5. “Kennedy Brooks is a second-year player and the odd man out, but he has practice squad potential, while Sermon could get cut with Boston Scott being the trusted fourth running back on the depth chart.”

The Eagles could opt to outright release Sermon rather than bring him back on the practice squad, Erby wrote. Brooks is entering his second season with the Eagles after spending part of last season on the practice squad.

Brooks “now looks to take the next step and earn a roster spot,” according to Dave Spadaro of PhiladelphiaEagles.com.

Why the Eagles Have Little Use for Trey Sermon

Had coach Nick Sirianni told reporters in March that he “was excited about” Sermon, according to John McMullen of Sports Illustrated.

“Trey didn’t get an opportunity to showcase his talents. … But I can’t tell you how many times at practice he made a cut or you just saw him in his pads or he made a play on a screen or whatever it was and you’re like, ‘Man, this guy has a chance to be really good,’” Sirianni said, according to McMullen.

Still, it’s hard to imagine Sermon, a former third-round pick out of Oklahoma, overtaking the top four running backs on the depth chart.

Scott and Gainwell both return to the Eagles with years of experience, Scott being with Philadelphia since 2018 and Gainwell since 2021. Furthermore, Gainwell actually became Philadelphia’s go-to running back in the postseason as he outgained Sanders, 181 to 148 rushing yards.

Meanwhile, Swift was acquired in a draft day trade with the Detroit Lions and is expected to emerge as the starting running back. Directly competing with Swift for the starting job is Penny, who previously served as the Seattle Seahawks‘ starting running back and has averaged 5.7 yards per carry during his career, the highest average of any back in the NFL.

Because he was claimed off waivers, Sermon is still actually in the midst of his four-year, $4.9 million rookie contract with the 49ers. He’s due to earn $1.1 million this season, which is slightly less than Penny’s $1.350 million deal.