By Eliot Shorr-Parks | NJ Advance Media

PHILADELPHIA -- The Eagles opened their preseason schedule on Thursday night with a 31-14 to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The game was a chance for players on the roster bubble to make their first real case for making the roster. It was also the first chance for players who were having strong training camps to show they might only be good practice players.

Here is an updated guess at the Eagles' 53-man roster after their preseason opener:

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Tim Hawk | NJ.com

Quarterbacks (3)

Left off: Joe Callahan

Why: Callahan has had a very impressive training camp so far and had some moments against the Steelers. He finished the game 8/18 for 91 yards. He lacks the ideal size for the position but has a strong arm and is mobile. Any other year he might make it as a third quarterback. Not on this Eagles' team.

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Carson Wentz

Wentz didn't play on Thursday night. It likely isn't going to cost him a roster spot.

Wentz's training camp has been a roller coaster to the naked eye. Some days he seems ready to start. Others he essentially rides the bench. Head coach Doug Pederson insisted on Wednesday that everything is still on schedule for Wentz.

Time will tell if that is the case.

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Nick Foles

Foles has had a shaky start to training camp and is now dealing with pain in his neck. He will always be considered a trade candidate as long as he and Wentz are both on the roster. It is hard to see the Eagles pulling the trigger on a trade unless another team offers at least one 1st-round pick in return.

Sudfeld's performance on Thursday night showed why the Eagles likely don't yet feel comfortable moving on from Foles as their top backup.

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Nate Sudfeld

Sudfeld showed on Thursday night why the Eagles are very intrigued by him as a quarterback prospect. He finished the game 10/14 for 140 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Sudfeld moves very well for a quarterback that stands 6-foot-6. He did a great job against the Steelers avoiding pressure when it came. He turned on play that should have been a sack into a touchdown.

The issue with Sudfeld is his consistency. Sudfeld had as many interceptions against the Steelers as he did touchdowns. Accuracy was also an issue for Sudfeld as he let a few passes sail on him down the field.

He has some room to grow but the Eagles won't be cutting him loose.

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Running Backs (4)

Left off: Donnel Pumphrey, Matt Jones, Wendell Smallwood

Why: The Eagles kept five running backs on the roster last season so they wouldn't lose Pumphrey. This year it looked like Pumphrey was on his way to a roster spot this season but that might have changed after Thursday night.

It is dangerous to put too much stock into one game but Pumphrey not playing after a rough week of practice feels like a big step back in his attempt to make the roster.

The Eagles are going to have a tough decision to make on Smallwood. He is a strong special teams player, knows the offense and can run between the tackles. His chances of sticking around as the fifth-running back are much higher than they were when camp started.

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Darren Sproles

Sproles has looked 100% healthy during the start of training camp. He is still lightning quick. Look for him to play a big role in the offense on third downs and in hurry-up situations.

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Jay Ajayi

The Eagles have called Ajayi their top running back throughout the offseason. So far in training camp Ajayi has been basically splitting reps with Corey Clement and Sproles. Ajayi might end up leading the Eagles in carries but so far indications are they will still use a running back by committee.

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Corey Clement

Clement has the complete trust of the coaches. Look for him to get a fairly even split between catches and carries this season.

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Josh Adams

Adams showed on Thursday night that the impressive runs he has been making in training camp the last week can translate into a game. Adams' first carry of the game went 15 yards up the right sideline. The rookie running back picks up yards in a hurry when he gets going with his long strides.

He finished the game with 30 yards on six carries.

Adams stock is very much going up the longer training camp goes on. The Eagles might decide they don't want to risk losing him to waivers, much like they didn't want to risk losing Corey Clement last season -- and we all remember how that decision turned out.

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Wide Receivers (6)

Left off: Bryce Treggs, Greg Ward Jr., Rashard Davis, Anthony Mahoungou, Tim Wilson, DeAndre Carter

Why: The Eagles have to be thrilled with what they have seen from the bottom half of their roster at receiver.

Rashard Davis and Greg Ward have both had a great start to camp. Mahoungou has also flashed some serious potential. The only disappointment has been Treggs. It wouldn't be surprising if the Eagles kept three receivers on the practice squad this season.

There is a chance the Eagles decide to keep just five receivers after the performance receiver Shelton Gibson had on Thursday night.

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Mike Wallace

It is clear that Wallace is going to need every rep he can get in training camp and the preseason -- which is bad news since he hasn't practiced recently and didn't play on Thursday night. Eagles' quarterbacks are just 7-of-14 targeting him in the first six practices. The good news for Wallace is that his top backup, Mack Hollins, has not impressed in training camp or against the Steelers.

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Alshon Jeffery

Jeffery has not yet practiced during training camp as he recovers from a shoulder injury. The missed reps shouldn't be overlooked.

Only 14 players in the NFL saw the ball come their way more than Jeffery did last season. Jeffery was the only player in the top 20 of targets to not finish with 800-or-more yards. Eagles quarterbacks completed only 47% of their passes when thrown the ball his way. Jeffery could use the time with Wentz (or Foles) to get some extra reps and build more chemistry.

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Nelson Agholor

Agholor saved his career with a big 2017 season. Now, it is time for him to repeat the success he had last year and turn it into a big contract next offseason.

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Mack Hollins

Hollins has had a very poor start to camp and that carried over into the start of the preseason.

Hollins didn't catch a single pass against the Steelers on Thursday night despite getting plenty of reps. He has caught only 13 of the 26 passes thrown his way in training camp practices and has three drops. One of his drops would have been a touchdown if he held on.

Hollins needs to improve if he wants to see an increased role this season.

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Shelton Gibson

Gibson showed the fans at Lincoln Financial Field on Thursday night just how much he has improved by pulling in a 63-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter. He finished the game with two catches for 77 yards.

Gibson has elite speed and now that he is catching the ball -- something he struggled with last season -- he looks ready to potentially contribute this season.

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Markus Wheaton

Wheaton did not play against the Steelers, but it might not impact him as much as a player like Pumphrey missing the game.

The Eagles need backups at receiver that can both play multiple positions and step into a big game if needed without being shook by the moment. Wheaton checks off both of those boxes over some of the younger receivers on the roster.

Wheaton has not been as dominant during training camp as he was during OTAs but he has still had a strong camp. Wheaton has three touchdowns in six practices, the second most of all the receivers on the roster.

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Tight End (3)

Left off: Billy Brown, Adam Zaruba, Joshua Perkins

Why: The three tight end positions are basically all locked up. Ertz, Goedert and Rodgers will all have fairly significant roles in the offense. It is going to be very tough for Brown, Zaruba or Perkins to steal away a spot.

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Zach Ertz

It will be interesting to see how Goedert being on the roster impacts Ertz. Ertz is arguably the best tight end in the NFL. Having Goedert next to him could open the field up even more for him. Some of the targets that went to Ertz last season could go to Goedert this year.

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Dallas Goedert

Goedert had a very impressive first game in an Eagles' uniform. He ended the game with four catches for 66 yards and one touchdown. Although he did have one drop there was much more to be encouraged about with Goedert. It is clear he is going to be the backup tight end on this roster and have a role in the offense early on.

Richard Rodgers: Rodgers didn't have a catch on Thursday night but gets a roster spot as a veteran backup that can contribute in the passing game.

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Offensive tackles (3)

Left off: Jordan Mailata, Taylor Hart, Toby Weathersby

Why: It is going to be tough for the Eagles to keep Hart since he can only play tackle. His improvement at the position is impressive but having two backup offensive linemen that can only play tackle doesn't make sense. Mailata could make the roster if they don't want to expose him to waivers. He will need a very strong preseason to make that a risk, however.

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Jason Peters

Peters has not taken all of the 11-on-11 team drills but he still projects to play in Week 1. He did not play against the Steelers.

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Lane Johnson

Johnson played a handful of snaps against the Steelers. He appeared to briefly be walking with a limp after one play but he finished the series and looked find in the locker room.

This stat is always worth mentioning when discussing Johnson. Over the last 2 seasons the Eagles are 20-3 (including playoffs) in games that Johnson has started and finished. In the 10 games he missed in 2016? The Eagles went 2-8. Johnson staying healthy is key for the Eagles.

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Halapoulivaati Vaitai

Vaitai has been taking first-team reps in place of Peters recently. The Eagles quarterbacks can sleep well at night knowing Vaitai would come in if Johnson or Peters were to go down.

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Interior Offensive Line (5)

Left off: Chance Warmack, Aaron Evans, Jon Toth, Darrell Greene, Ian Park

Why: The Eagles have some tough decisions to make with Isaac Seumalo and Chance Warmack. Like Hart, Warmack doesn't offer any versatility. He can only play guard. It is also debatable how good he is at that. Warmack was pulled after just one snap early on in training camp for jumping offsides. Warmack might have a fan in offensive linemen Jeff Stoutland but the team can only justify keeping on the roster for so long.

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Jason Kelce

Kelce's value to the team has been on full display during training camp. The Eagles would have to move Wisniewski to center if Kelce went down. That would hurt them at two positions. Seumalo's struggle at backup center makes Kelce all that more valuable.

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Stefen Wisniewski

Wisniewski is both the team's starting left guard and their top backup center. He is an incredibly important member of the offensive line.

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Brandon Brooks

Brooks is arguably the best offensive guard in the NFL and helps gives the Eagles a dominant right side. He missed one practice due to illness but has practiced two days in a row since then.

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Isaac Seumalo

There are not many good reasons for the Eagles to keep Seumalo. He showed last season he is not able to play guard, as he was benched two weeks into the season. He has experience at tackle but the Eagles are deep at backup tackle.

He showed on Thursday night he is a project at center as well. Seumalo had at least two really high snaps and struggled to get the ball to the quarterback throughout the night.

Really the only reason Seumalo makes the roster in this projection is because the Eagles -- for some reason -- seem to still believe he can be a valuable backup.

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Matt Pryor

Pryor has had an excellent start to camp. He might already be the team's best backup guard. He also has the ability to play tackle if needed. Pryor is pretty close to a lock at this point.

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Defensive end (6)

Left off: Danny Ezechukwu, Joe Ostman

Why: The Eagles can justify going heavy at defensive end.

One reason is the injury to defensive end Brandon Graham. Graham might play in Week 1 but he shouldn't be counted on to play a heavy snap count right away. The fact that they can put Michael Bennett in at defensive tackle if needed is another reason they might go heavy at the position.

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Brandon Graham

Graham has yet to practice during training camp because of his ankle injury. Graham is the Eagles' best defensive end and is key to their elite run defense. He should be back in time for Week 1 but it would be surprising if he played during the preseason.

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Chris Long

The Eagles gave Long extra incentive to come back by re-working his contract for the 2018 season. Long is once again going to be a valuable member of the defensive line despite being listed as a backup.

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Michael Bennett

Watching Bennett move around on the football field has been impressive. He is very quick for a player his size and has looked good rushing the passer. Bennett should see time all over the defensive line.

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Derek Barnett

Barnett has been with the first-team defensive line during training camp since Graham has been on the sideline. Even when Graham returns it wouldn't be surprising if Barnett started opposite Graham. He has had a great start to camp and "sacked" Foles during one 11-on-11 team drill.

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Steven Means

Means had a strong game on Thursday night and gets a roster spot for two reasons.

First, the Eagles aren't deep at defensive tackle and likely would rather keep Means than one of the young defensive tackles. Second, he is a good special teams player.

Add in that Means is a great practice player -- yes, that matters -- and keeping Means makes sense.

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Josh Sweat

Sweat did not have the kind of impact he likely hoped for in his first NFL game. Sweat was called for a roughing-the-passer penalty that kept a Steelers' drive alive that later resulted in a touchdown.

Still, Sweat has been one of the most impressive young players on the roster during training camp. He has all of the tools an NFL team would want from a defensive end. He might not get big snaps right away but there is no way the Eagles will risk exposing him to waivers.

Only way he isn't on the 53-man roster is if he goes on the injured reserve list with an "injury".

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Defensive tackle (4)

Left off: Aziz Shittu, Craig Winston, Bruce Hector

PUP: Timmy Jernigan

Why: Head coach Doug Pederson doesn't seem very confident Jernigan will be ready for the start of the season. He seems destined to begin on the PUP. It is worth noting that Pederson is a fan of Shittu but he will have to really impress during the preseason games to get serious consideration for a roster spot.

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Fletcher Cox

Cox was dominant in the limited snaps he did play on Thursday night. He is the team's only sure thing at defensive tackle and has "Defensive Player of the Year" potential. He is even more valuable this year than last because of the depth issues at defensive tackle.

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Destiny Vaeao

The Eagles seem to be comfortable with Vaeao starting next to Cox this season. That is surprising considering they brought Haloti Ngata in this offseason to be the top backup to Timmy Jernigan. With Jernigan likely heading to the PUP, however, it looks like Vaeao will be starting in Week 1.

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Haloti Ngata

Ngata was still working with the second-team defense on Thursday night despite the fact he seems to be fully healthy. The Eagles really need quality snaps from Ngata this season. So far the chances of that happening seem slim.

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Elijah Qualls

Qualls had a little bit of good and a little bit of bad on Thursday night. Defensive line coach Chris Wilson will likely remember the bad more than the good. Qualls jumped offsides on a play in the first quarter. There is nothing Wilson hates more -- and he is very vocal about that in practice -- than player jumping offsides.

Qualls did, however, show some potential rushing the passer against the Steelers. He gets this spot right now by default as none of the other defensive tackles seemed to stand out in the team's first preseason game.

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Linebacker (6)

Left Off: Cory Nelson, Asanty Brown, Kyle Wilson

Why: Nelson signed with the Eagles with the promise of competing for a starting job. The chances of that happening seem slim as both Kamu Grugier-Hill and Nate Gerry both seem to be ahead of him on the depth chart. The Eagles have also been giving Joe Walker first-team reps over Nelson. The Eagles save $1 million by releasing Nelson.

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Jordan Hicks

Hicks played in a game Thursday night for the first time since suffering a torn Achilles last season. He looked like the same player he was prior to the injury. That is great news for an Eagles' defense that needs help at linebacker.

Hicks has done a great job both blitzing and reading what the offense is doing all offseason. He also has been taking some snaps at outside linebacker. Look for him to be all over the field this season for the Eagles.

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Nigel Bradham

Bradham is a key member of the defense and the Eagles' only sure thing at linebacker. He is near the top of the list of players the Eagles can least afford to lose to injury.

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Kamu Grugier-Hill

Grugier-Hill made his case for the third starting linebacker spot on Thursday night.

The third-year linebacker was all over the field against the Steelers. He made plays in the backfield as a pass rusher and showed off his sideline-to-sideline speed when he needed to chase down a running play.

Grugier-Hill outplayed Nate Gerry and he should be in the lead now for a starting job.

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Nate Gerry

Gerry finished Thursday night with four tackles but did not really stand out in the snaps that he was on the field. There is no question Gerry will be on the roster but he is going to have to start making more plays if he wants to be playing on defense and not just be a special teams player like last season.

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Joe Walker

Walker did not have his best game on Thursday night. He got time throughout the game but did not register a single tackle.

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LaRoy Reynolds

Reynolds gets the last spot at linebacker over Nelson. He projects as a better special teams player and will cost less against the salary cap.

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Cornerbacks (6)

Left off: DJ Killings, Chandon Sullivan

Why: The battle for the final roster spot at cornerback will be between De'Vante Bausby and Killings. Bausby seems to have the edge right now as he has been working with the first-team defense a fair amount at nickel cornerback. He also made more plays on Thursday night, almost picking off a pass in the second quarter by making a nice jump on the ball.

Things can change quickly in the secondary, however, and Bausby's spot is far from a lock. The preseason games will be key. Killings should not be counted out for a roster spot.

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Jalen Mills

Mills like arguably the most important player in the Eagles' secondary outside of safety Malcolm Jenkins. Mills led the Eagles' cornerbacks in snaps last season and routinely matches up against the opposing offense's No. 1 wide receiver. Although it hasn't happened yet it wouldn't be surprising if he ended up being the nickel cornerback this season with Sidney Jones playing the outside.

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Ronald Darby

Darby might be the most likely starter to be traded during training camp but the chances of it happening are still slim. Darby has had a great start to training camp and the Eagles' defense is far better with him on it. Trading Darby would also deal a pretty serious blow to the team's depth at outside cornerback.

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Sidney Jones

Jones got an extended look at nickel cornerback against the Steelers. He seemed to pass the test.

Jones played into the second quarter when the rest of the defense had already been sent to the bench. He didn't seem to give up any catches and looked very comfortable in his first game in the inside at nickel as opposed to the outside.

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Rasul Douglas

Douglas had a very up-and-down night against the Steelers. He allowed a 71-yard touchdown to Steelers receiver Juju Smith-Schuster when he mistimed his jump. He also seemed to be responsible for another Steelers touchdown at the end of the second half.

The night wasn't a complete disaster for Douglas. He did pick off Steelers quarterback Joshua Dobbs in the second quarter, making a great jump on the ball and holding on before going out of bounds.

Even with the roller coaster performance on Thursday night there is no shot the Eagles will cut Douglas. He is going to be the top backup on the roster at cornerback.

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De'Vante Bausby

Bausby gets the final roster spot because of the experience he has had so far with the first-team defense in the nickel position. As mentioned above, however, his spot is far from locked up.

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Avonte Maddox

The Eagles clearly view Maddox as a player they want to be a big part of their secondary in the future. Maddox might not play much this season, however, due to the depth in the secondary. He is currently working with the second-team defense.

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Safety (4)

Left Off: Ryan Neal, Jeremy Reaves

PUP: Chris Maragos

Why: The Eagles don't have a ton of options at backup safety. They have players with potential but none they can trust to come in and play right now. Maragos seems destined for the PUP. Don't be surprised if the Eagles sign a veteran player at backup safety.

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Malcolm Jenkins

Jenkins is the most important player on the Eagles' defense. He has had a strong start to training camp with two interceptions in team drills. If he were to go down it would force the Eagles to change how they game plan each week.

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Rodney McLeod

The Eagles believe they have the best set of starting safeties in the NFL with Jenkins and McLeod. That belief in addition to their serious lack of depth at the position makes McLeod a key member of the defense.

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Corey Graham

Graham didn't play on Thursday night, a decision likely made because he just signed with the team earlier this week. He is going to be the third safety on the roster this season and should play right around the same amount of snaps this season (367) as he did last year.

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Tre Sullivan

Sullivan did not have a great night on Thursday. He was unable to catch Smith-Schuster at the end of of his 71-yard touchdown despite seeming to be in great position to make an attempt at a tackle.

His showing on Thursday night combined with the signing of Graham might have Sullivan's spot in jeopardy. For now, however, he remains on the 53-man roster.

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Special Teams (3)

Kicker: Jake Elliott

Punter: Cameron Johnston

Long Snapper: Rick LoVato

Notes: The pressure was on Johnston to perform on Thursday night and he answered the call. Johnston did a nice job with almost all of his kicks, including a 81-yarder that would have pinned the Steelers on their own nine-yard line but was called back. His job should remain safe.

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Where to reach me

Eliot Shorr-Parks may be reached at eshorrpa@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @EliotShorrParks. Find NJ.com Eagles on Facebook.

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