Tim Tebow cut by Eagles before regular season

Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz | USA TODAY Sports

Two full seasons after he last appeared in a meaningful NFL game, Tim Tebow's playing career is back on hold.

Tebow was among the Philadelphia Eagles' final cuts to their 53-man roster Saturday, placing the quarterback back on a market that has been reticent to give him a chance.

Eagles coach Chip Kelly elected to keep two quarterbacks - Sam Bradford and Mark Sanchez - but said he plans to bring on a third. Matt Barkley, a fourth-round pick in 2013, was traded Friday to the Arizona Cardinals.

“We felt Tim has progressed, but we didn’t feel he was good enough to be the (No.) 3 right now,” Kelly said.

An NFL team still could sign Tebow after teams set their 53-man rosters, but it's unclear whether there's any interest in the signal-caller.

Tebow was inconsistent throughout the preseason after reworking his oft-criticized throwing motion with former MLB pitcher Tom House. In four games of limited action against backups, he completed 58.6% of his passes.

“He really improved his throwing motion from when he was throwing a couple of years ago,” Kelly said. “He worked extremely hard on it and deserves a lot of credit for that. I talked to him a little earlier (Saturday) when we released him.

“He just needs to get more playing time. Get out there and get actual reps. Because he has done a ton on his own from an individual basis, but it is about taking that next step and playing (in) the game.”

Tebow's last shot in the NFL ended at the same stage, with the New England Patriots cutting him in 2013 before the regular season. Unable to land another job in the NFL in 2013, Tebow worked as a college football analyst for ESPN in 2014.

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