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Eagles Waive Johnny Wilson, Leaving Receiver Room Without a True Big Man
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- Eagles Waive Johnny Wilson, Leaving Receiver Room Without a True Big Man
Ahead of their preseason matchup with the New England Patriots , the Philadelphia Eagles announced a wave of roster moves, headlined by the decision to waive wide receiver Johnny Wilson with an injury designation.
Wilson was drafted by the Eagles in the sixth round and entered training camp looking to compete for a roster spot after missing all of the previous season following season-ending knee and ankle surgeries.
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Back in June, Nick Sirianni labeled Wilson a "dirty work" player alongside Darius Cooper, both considered on the bubble , with the Eagles having 11 wide receivers on the roster entering camp. Throughout training camp, Cooper has been able to stay healthy, earning extra opportunities while DeVonta Smith and Makai Lemon missed extended periods of time, which he has made the best of with his consistency.
Wilson was far less consistent and listed as a third stringer on the Eagles' unofficial depth chart . With the chance to make up ground in the preseason opener, a knee injury forced him to miss the game. It also held him out of joint practices with the New England Patriots.
Simply put, Wilson needed to stay healthy to make the roster and he was unable to, sadly the story of his time in Philadelphia . The Eagles' tallest wide receiver is now Dontayvion Wicks at just 6-foot-1, making the Philadelphia receiver room one of the smallest in the NFL.
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The rest of the roster moves
May 1, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Brandon Hayes (82) runs drills during rookie minicamp at NovaCare Complex. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Philadelphia signed wide receiver Brandon Hayes, who participated in the Eagles' rookie camp as a tryout player in May. Primarily a returner, Hayes' 30.7-yard kickoff return average was the third best in all of the FCS and was one of only five players to return multiple kickoffs for touchdowns.
Will Shipley is listed as the primary kickoff returner, reprising his role from last season when he ranked 17th in average yards per return. If Shipley struggles early, Hayes could be a practice-squad candidate for a game-day call-up.
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A third-team All-ACC selection at NC State, center Zeke Correll signed with Minnesota as an undrafted free agent in 2025 before a broken ankle landed him on injured reserve and led to his release. Now in Philadelphia, he reunites with new Eagles offensive line coach Chris Kuper, who held the same role with the Vikings last season.
The final move saw Tariq Castro-Fields placed on IR due to a heel injury. The 27-year-old spent the last two years on the Eagles' practice squad.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Aug 22, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
