Bowen: Preseason finale puts finishing touches on Eagles roster

IT'S ALMOST ALWAYS wrong to think that one final preseason game, played against some other team's subs, will seriously affect an evaluation process that began in May.

But there we were Thursday night, oohing over Paul Turner's 71-yard punt return for a touchdown, tsk-tsking JaCorey Shepherd's inability to cover former Temple star Robby Anderson on a 44-yard touchdown pass from Bryce Petty. The Eagles were playing the Jets, ultimately winning, 14-6, and, while the preseason finale might be the most futile exercise in football, it was the only game we had to watch.

Turner came into the game as the Eagles' leading preseason receiver, with 11 catches for 99 yards. He added six catches for 66 yards, in addition to the punt return, on which he found a crease and zipped right up the middle, past everyone.

"My opinion, I'm just never satisfied," Turner told Comcast SportsNet, when asked whether he thought he'd done enough to secure a job. "I feel like I did OK, but I feel like there was more that I could have done, and there's a lot more that I want to continue to do."

If Turner, an undrafted rookie from Louisiana Tech, isn't on the team for the opener, at this point, it just about would have to be because the Eagles are able to acquire someone more experienced in the cutdowns to 53 that must be completed by 4 p.m. Saturday. There is no way they have five better receivers on their roster right now.

But we pretty much knew this going in, just as we knew Shepherd, playing in his first preseason game after tearing an ACL last year and sitting with a hamstring injury through three games this year, was a huge longshot to make the team.

Somewhere out there, if there was a coin flip at a position, maybe somebody will get the nod based on what he did Thursday. Defensive end Steven Means forced intentional grounding and also had a first-half sack. He's motored through a really good camp and preseason. But massive 2014 first-round disappointment Marcus Smith, who mans the same position, also played well, in fewer snaps. Doug Pederson seemed to hint strongly that Smith is on the team - "Marcus has put himself in a strong position," the coach said afterward. Can both make it?

Did 2014 fifth-round safety Ed Reynolds move the needle when he took a Christian Hackenberg interception 90 yards for a touchdown? It sure seemed Reynolds was behind converted cornerback Jaylen Watkins for the fourth and presumably final safety spot going in, but who knows?

Reynolds credited defensive end Bryan Braman, who was bearhugging Hackenberg and affected the throw.

"I was, like, 'There is no way he is throwing this ball,' and he threw it, and it just came, and the rest happened . . . Bryan Braman taking him off the spot just really made it easy for me."

One position was affected Thursday, by a guy who didn't play. Pederson had said right tackle Lane Johnson would get some snaps, but didn't. The upshot was that the Eagles seem to have discerned Johnson will be eligible at least for the Sept. 11 season opener against Cleveland.

"Until I get further word from the league office, he goes in as my starting right tackle," Pederson said. "If I haven't heard now, it may not be (over the Labor Day weekend)."

Pederson said that for practice next week, Allen Barbre will move from right tackle back to left guard.

Johnson has said he was notified July 30 that his June drug test was positive for banned peptides. He has said he is under the impression he will be suspended if his B sample, taken at the same time, shows the same results. He thinks the suspension will be for 10 games, since he would be a second-time offender. But none of that is official.

"It is tough. You would like to know one way or the other, whether or not you get the (roster) exemption spot (for a team with a suspended player)," Pederson said. "I'm not going to let that bother us."

Here's how the roster might look Saturday evening, with the caveat that Howie Roseman absolutely will look to pick up at least a few castoffs from other teams.

Quarterbacks: You know the deal. Sam Bradford, Chase Daniel (for some reason, despite Thursday night) and Carson Wentz.

Running backs: Ryan Mathews, Darren Sproles, Kenjon Barner (so secure he didn't play Thursday, that has to be a new feeling) and fifth-round rookie Wendell Smallwood. Smallwood's injuries this preseason are unfortunate, but shouldn't keep him off the roster.

Offensive line: Jason Peters, Allen Barbre, Jason Kelce, Brandon Brooks, Lane Johnson, Matt Tobin, Isaac Seumalo, Josh Andrews, Halapoulivaati Vaitai, Stefen Wisniewski. Could go a bit lighter here, but don't want to see Johnson suspended after you've cut a guy you would have kept had you had an open spot.

Wide receivers: Jordan Matthews, Nelson Agholor, Josh Huff, Dorial Green-Beckham and Paul Turner. Pederson said Turner is "making it hard for us." Doesn't look that hard to most of us.

Tight ends: Brent Celek, Zach Ertz, Trey Burton. I had Chris Pantale on here because he can sub in at fullback, but he really can't catch. The Eagles might be looking on the wire for that fullback guy; Pederson hinted at that Thursday night.

Specialists: Kicker Caleb Sturgis, punter Donnie Jones and long snapper Jon Dorenbos. Sturgis clearly won the kicking competition with Cody Parkey, who had such a fine rookie year in 2014. Someone will need Parkey.

Defensive line: Connor Barwin, Brandon Graham, Vinny Curry, Bennie Logan, Fletcher Cox, Beau Allen, Taylor Hart, Steven Means, Bryan Braman, Marcus Smith. Yes, that's too many. But Pederson definitely indicated that Smith "has put himself in a strong position," including good special-teams play. And Means deserves to be here. Hart has size and potential, but was drafted as a 3-4 end, and I wouldn't be shocked if he didn't make it.

Linebackers: Nigel Bradham, Jordan Hicks, Mychal Kendricks, Stephen Tulloch and Najee Goode. Also somebody who isn't here yet, but for now, those five.

Corners: Leodis McKelvin, Nolan Carroll, Ron Brooks, C.J. Smith, Eric Rowe, Jalen Mills. Rowe took a bad pass-interference penalty against the Jets. I still wouldn't cut the guy, but this is not the front office that drafted him in the second round in 2015. Mills is this regime's guy. They still might try to sneak him onto the practice squad. I wouldn't risk it.

Safeties: Rodney McLeod, Malcolm Jenkins, Chris Maragos and Jaylen Watkins. Watkins is bigger and quicker than Reynolds, who is a better tackler. Tough choice there.

The Eagles finished the preseason 4-0 for the first time since 2012, when that spotless record propelled them to a 4-12 season . . . Tight end M.J. McFarland, an undrafted rookie from Texas El Paso who showed potential but wasn't going to make the roster, left in the first half with a knee injury. Might be enough to get him an IR year . . . Dorial Green-Beckham played briefly, caught two Chase Daniel passes for 31 yards . . . Linebacker Mychal Kendricks, the only Eagles defensive starter designated to play, had to run out there for only a few series. Ditto wideout Josh Huff, who caught one pass. "From last week to this week, (Kendricks) needed to knock a little of the rust off," Doug Pederson said. Kendricks was bothered by a hamstring injury until recently. "He just hasn't had the game reps we would like him to have, this entire training camp."

@LesBowen

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