Just two days before the end of the game against the Cleveland Browns, the Philadelphia Eagles roster has 52 players after the release of free agent Devin White.
Suddenly, fans have questions about the depth of the team, how they will fill out their roster, and who will play in Week 6 at MIKE if Nakobe Dean is limited or worse, suffers a setback during the game .
Did the Eagles commit an unforced error? Could they see White shine elsewhere if he lands on another team before the end of the season? Asked about these and other questions during his first media availability session after his leave, Nick Sirianni explained why it was the right time to show White the door, even though he has respect for him and how he handled the situation.
” From [LB] Diviner [White] I came here, I just thought he was a really big pro. He handled everything with class. I know it was a tough situation for him, a guy who started a lot of games in this league and was successful in this league,” Sirianni told reporters.
“And I can’t say enough good things about Devin, the person, and how he handled a disappointing situation for him. I think it just gives you perspective on how we feel about the rest of this room. And the guys we have in this room, and how they executed and how they played. I look forward to continuing to grow with the guys we have.
Sirianni also complimented the play of Dean and Zack Baun, who made White a replaceable starter.
“It dates back to [LB] Nakobe [Dean] And [LB] Zach [Baun] get this place, earn this place. And like I said, it’s not an easy situation. I can’t say enough good things about [LB] Diviner [White] and how he handled a really difficult situation. Sometimes guys play roles on special teams, et cetera. And just in this particular case, here’s where we were and how it played out.
With players like Ben VanSumeren, Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and Oren Burks all logging at least 50 snaps on special teams through the first four games of the season, having White active to sit on the bench seemed like a poor use of resources for the Eagles. match day. If they felt comfortable enough in “Axe Man Jr.” to play him as Dean’s immediate replacement, White was really just getting in the way.
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Nick Sirianni has high hopes for Eagles rookie Jeremiah Trotter Jr.
Turning his attention from the past to the future, Sirianni was asked if he had confidence in Trotter as a backup middle linebacker, to which he answered yes. When asked why, Sirianni explained it, noting that he had seen enough of Trotter’s work in camp and practice to make a proper assessment.
“Again, these are not just things that we make decisions on without any evidence. We train every day,” Sirianni noted. “We pass there every day. We meet every day, obviously, and come to these conclusions on this aspect.
Will Trotter become the next TJ Edwards, another unheralded prospect who has become a starter for the Eagles in recent years? Maybe yes, maybe no, but based on his pedigree alone, it’s safe to say that Clemson pride is supported by all fans.
