5 Philadelphia Eagles Veterans Who May Not Make the 53-Man Roster

With the Philadelphia Eagles' third preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars rapidly approaching, the most dreaded day on the calendar for both players and coaches looms larger by the day.

Cutdown day is right around the corner with rosters needing to be trimmed to 75 players on August 27 and down to the active 53-man roster four days later on August 31.

Competition is no stranger to NFL training camps, but that is especially true at the Novacare Complex where first-year head coach Chip Kelly has instilled a 'survival of the fittest' mentality up and down the roster.

Injuries to key players certainly have changed the tone of certain position battles, while there have been surprise performers in others, and certain veterans have been leaped over as practices and half of the preseason slate is already in the rear-view mirror.

Because of the new business-as-usual mentality and lack of favoritism shown to veteran holdovers from the Andy Reid regime, there likely will be some familiar names and faces on the Eagles' section of the NFL's cut spreadsheets that are released to the media in coming days and weeks.

Some free agent signings haven't panned out thus far, and some unheralded players have shown the ability to make a name for themselves when given the opportunity.

With that in mind, here is a glance at five veteran players at risk of being on the outside looking in when the team cuts down its roster and takes the field on opening night on September 9 against the Washington Redskins on Monday Night Football.

1. LB Casey Matthews

It seems as though even linebacker Casey Matthews' status as a University of Oregon alum will not even be enough to save his roster spot in Kelly's eyes.

Matthews has done little to stand out from a pack of hungry, youthful linebackers who are battling it out for precious roster spots during this camp. Even the former 2011 fourth-round pick's play on special teams has left much to be desired.

Many questioned whether or not the 6-foot-1, 240-pound linebacker had fourth-round talent when Andy Reid selected him, and this summer may be when the turk finally gets the chance to send the under-performing veteran packing.

2. S Kenny Phillips

Kenny Phillips' offseason signing by the Eagles was viewed as a low-risk, high-reward scenario for the team since his contract offered little guaranteed money.

After a spring's worth of OTAs, half a summer in training camp and two preseason games, it seems as if the Eagles will be banking on the 'low risk' portion of the bargain.

The six-year veteran, who missed nine games as a member of the New York Giants last season, struggled to see the field during OTAs this spring and hasn't looked healthy during training camp practices this summer.

Phillips hasn't seen much field action with the top secondary unit and has already been bypassed by rookie Earl Wolff so far in practice. It would not be surprising at all to see the 26 year-old at the unemployment line in September.

3. OL Danny Watkins

Few draft choices from the Andy Reid era have been more scrutinized than the selection of Danny Watkins with the 23rd overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft.

After landing in former offensive line coach Howard Mudd's doghouse, it's fair to say that Watkins has earned the label of being a first-round bust. It isn't a stretch to say the team chose Lane Johnson fourth overall in April's draft purely to rectify the mistake of choosing Watkins out of Baylor two years ago.

While Watkins has had a decent camp so far this summer and appears to be much better suited to play in Jeff Stoutland's scheme, all of that, even combined with Dennis Kelly undergoing back surgery two weeks ago, may not be enough to preserve a roster spot for the third-year Kelowna, British Columbia product and former firefighter.

4. LB Jamar Chaney

After three seasons as a part-time starter, this may be the end of the line for Jamar Chaney in Philadelphia.

One of several linebackers on this team who is simply better suited to run a 4-3 scheme, Chaney has appeared to be a fish out of water in first-year defensive coordinator Bill Davis Jr's 3-4 scheme so far this preseason.

Chaney has done little to stand out during practice and has seen little, if any time with the first-team defense either on the practice fields of the Novacare Complex or in the team's first two preseason games.

The writing has been on the wall for several defensive players given the change in alignment, but nowhere is it more evident that a veteran player's days have been numbered here than with Chaney.

5. RB Felix Jones

When the public address announcer in the Lincoln Financial Field press box announced during Thursday's 14-9 Eagles preseason win over the Carolina Panthers that Felix Jones' return was doubtful due to a rib injury, he may have been underselling it.

In all likelihood, Jones will not be returning to this team, and it has nothing to do with injury, but rather ineffectiveness. Jones, signed in the offseason as a free agent, hasn't lived up to even his limited production as a five-year member of the Dallas Cowboys.

To say Jones has been an invisible man in training camp would be an understatement. Jones has been leapfrogged by second-year University of Washington product Chris Polk, who has been a training camp standout, and even Matthew Tucker has shown more flashes thus far.

If you missed Jones' 12 total carries in the first two preseason games, you've likely missed his entire tenure as a member Philadelphia Eagles .