EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - AUGUST 22: Head coach Nick Sirianni of the Philadelphia Eagles looks on before the NFL Preseason 2025 game between Philadelphia Eagles and New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on August 22, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) Getty
NORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 30: Joshua Weru of Northampton Saints poses for a portrait during the squad photocall for the 2022-2023 Gallagher Premiership Rugby season on August 30, 2022 in Northampton, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images) Getty
The Philadelphia Eagles flew home with a 24-21 preseason loss to the New England Patriots on their minds, but some players are feeling pretty good about how they played.
Philly can feel really good about how most of their rookies are stepping up and playing well early on. This Eagles defense, in particular, has some young players in the front seven who are looking really good.
One player is two games into his NFL career and is starting to create some buzz. He might even find himself on the 53-man roster after going undrafted.
GettyEAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – AUGUST 22: Head coach Nick Sirianni of the Philadelphia Eagles looks on before the NFL Preseason 2025 game between Philadelphia Eagles and New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on August 22, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
The Athletic Eagles reporter Zach Berman shared some thoughts on the team's performance in the loss to the Patriots. Berman made a convincing argument that undrafted rookie edge rusher Joshua Weru needs to be on the Eagles' final roster.
"This was the second football game Weru played in his life. He had not had a padded practice until earlier this month. Uar Bernard gets most of the attention, but Weru similarly offered traits that made the Eagles believe he was worth the experiment. Weru, who is 6-foot-4 and 244 pounds with a 4.45-second 40-yard dash and 41 1/2-inch vertical leap, was an international rugby player. Vic Fangio has downplayed the curiosity about him. Weru is not likely to contribute this season, so Fangio's focus is better spent on those who will help him win on Sundays.
But I'm having a hard time seeing how the Eagles could expose him to waivers. I thought the Eagles might try to push him through to the practice squad and use the international player exemption. Not anymore.
With the film he's put together in two preseason games, I doubt Roseman takes that risk. If there's a player with this type of pass rush upside, you lean toward protecting him — whether on the 53-man roster or if an injury emerges and the player can be stashed on IR. My updated 53-man roster comes out Monday. Weru will make it."
Weru made significant strides from the Week 1 preseason loss to the Baltimore Ravens . During the Patriots game, he racked up 3 tackles, 1 quarterback hit, 1 tackle for loss, and 1 sack in the loss.
GettyNORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 30: Joshua Weru of Northampton Saints poses for a portrait during the squad photocall for the 2022-2023 Gallagher Premiership Rugby season on August 30, 2022 in Northampton, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
This is a guy who has never played football until this year, and he already looks really good. Weru joins Eagles seventh-round pick Uar Bernard as two players who are coming from rugby to play football for the first time.
While Bernard has all the capabilities to be a great defensive tackle, Weru seems to be a bit ahead of him. The speed off the edge from Weru is why the Eagles wanted to take a chance on him in the first place.
There might be one more preseason game left, but Weru has more than proven himself to be on the roster. The Eagles know that if they waive him, another team will pick him up. They can't afford to lose him to another team.
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