Insider casts doubt on the future of a new Eagles roster addition

Sleep won't be on the menu once the Philadelphia Eagles reach training camp. This is truly a fascinating team, and putting head to pillow would mean the increased chance of missing some breaking news.

Every position group offers a story that could be discussed or debated for hours. Most of the starting lineup is set, but a few areas still need to be ironed out.

Who's the starting right guard? Who's the other starting outside cornerback playing across from Quinyon Mitchell? As we've known for a while, Vic Fangio plans to keep Cooper DeJean fixated in the slot.

Once upon a time, a tad over two months ago, it felt like the running back depth chart was the easiest to slot. Hold those horses. A trusted and well-known Philly insider isn't certain that's the case.

Eagles insider doesn't think A.J. Dillon is a shoo-in to make the roster.

Okay, let's do some inventory. The Eagles signed Saquon Barkley to a two-year extension. That felt like more writing on the wall for Kenneth Gainwell, and it was. He was allowed to walk as soon as free agency began.

Fullback Ben VanSumeren was signed to a one-year deal. A.J. Dillon agreed to a one-year contract of his own a day later. Everyone thought they had it figured out. The depth chart was set nine months before the start of the regular season.

The plan seemed obvious. The Birds would carry three tailbacks on the roster (Saquon Barkley, Will Shipley, and A.J. Dillon), and per Jeffrey Lurie, they would breathe life back into the fullback position with VanSumeren.

As Lee Corso would say, "Not so fast!" A well-known Eagles insider thinks everyone sharing that idea may have spoken too soon.

Jimmy Kempski lends his talent and theories to PhillyVoice daily, and he recently cooked up an early 53-man roster projection. He offers the edge to another newcomer, running back/returner hybrid Avery Williams. Here's some of what he had to say on the topic:

"Kenny Gainwell backed up Barkley as the two-minute offense back / RB2, a role that will likely go to Shipley in 2025... The Eagles have Dillon, who they signed in free agency, but who also missed the entire 2024 season with a stinger. They also have a jack-of-all-trades guy in Williams, and a couple of UDFAs in Johnson and Powell."

Kempski also laments that "Shipley should be fine as a runner and receiver in relief of Barkley", but also sees it sensible to ask if "he can pass protect efficiently" and "handle a heavy workload should Barkley go down."

Most believe the 'heavy-workload duties would be the responsibility of Dillon, which is fair to assume. After all, that's the same role he held down for the Green Bay Packers until the abovementioned injuries halted his run there.

The Eagles will have six OTA sessions over the next three weeks, and after a short break, we venture toward training camp and the preseason. Many of those questions will be answered closer to the start of the regular season and Week 1 at Lincoln Financial Field vs. the Dallas Cowboys.

NFL teams are now allowed to carry the 90-man roster for the duration of camp. Most of the top half of the depth chart is set, but the roster battles to fill out the bottom should give everyone plenty to discuss.

This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Insider believes a new Eagles addition now a long shot for roster spot