The Philadelphia Eagles have released their first depth chart of training camp. It's an important way to gauge where players embroiled in roster spot battles stand after the first few weeks of camp and heading into the first preseason game.
We'll start with quarerback where the starting job isn't in question, but all other spots are more or less up for grabs. Mike Kafka is the #2 with Nick Foles ahead of Trent Edwards at #3. Given that Foles is a rookie, he's not likely to get cut, so he is pretty much locked in at #3. Trent Edwards needs to win the backup job to get a roster spot. However, as anyone who has been to camp will attest, Kafka has looked really good and will be tough to unseat.
At WR, Riley Cooper, who remains sidelined with a broken collarbone, remains as the #4, with Marvin McNutt & Chad Hall behind him.
At RB, Dion Lewis has established himself as the clear #2 while rookie Bryce Brown is ahead of fellow rookie Chris Polk for #3.
Jason Babin & Trent Cole remain that starters at DE with Brandon Graham as the #2 at LDE while Darryl Tapp is Cole's backup at RDE.
Cullen Jenkins & Derek Landri are the starters at DT with Fletcher Cox & Antonio Dixon as the primary backups.
At LB, your starters are Brian Rolle at WILL, DeMeco Ryans at MIKE and Mychal Kendricks at SAM. Jamar Chaney is the #2 WILL with Keenan Clayton behind him. Casey Matthews is the backup at MIKE with Akeem Jordan the #2 at SAM.
Nnamdi Asomugha & Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie are on track to start at CB while Joselio Hanson has the edge on rookie Brandon Boykin in the slot. Curtis Marsh still looks like the primary backup on the outside. Cliff Harris is behind Brandon Hughes as the #7.
Nate Allen is your starter at SS with Kurt Coleman at FS. OJ Atogwe and Jaiquwan Jarrett are their respective backups. The Eagles see their safeties as interchangeable, so whether they are listed at SS or FS isn't that important.
There's a decent battle at punter where two time pro bowler Mat McBriar was brought in last week and is already ahead of 2nd year man Chas Henry. It's a pretty clear message to the young punter that he's going to need to stand out to make this roster. It also would appear to be a pretty good sign that McBriar is feeling healthy and looking good.
The Eagles will field two new return men this season after Dion Lewis never looked up to the KR task last season and the team looks to move away from using DeSean Jackson on punts. Brandon Boykin is the #1 KR and Damaris Johnson is the #1 PR. Both are also backups at the other return job with Chad Hall also in the mix at both spots.
This is just the initial depth chart and with 4 preseason games left to play, there's plenty of time for guys to move up and down.