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Eagles Brutally Cut Rookie WR Just One Week After Losing His Mother – A Staggering Shock

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – August 27, 2025

The Philadelphia Eagles made one of the coldest decisions of the summer on Tuesday, releasing a rookie wide receiver just a week after he lost his mother to lung cancer.

The move came as part of the NFL’s 53-man roster deadline — a period always filled with tough conversations and shattered dreams. For Philadelphia, a crowded wide receiver room left little margin, forcing the front office to cut a player many fans had grown sympathetic toward.

That player was Ife Adeyi, an undrafted rookie wideout signed earlier this summer. Once viewed as a potential underdog success story, Adeyi found himself squeezed out by the depth chart led by A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, rookie standout Darius Cooper.

What made the decision especially harsh is the timing: just one week ago, Adeyi lost his mother back home in Texas after a battle with lung cancer. He requested two days away from camp to attend the funeral, then returned immediately to Philadelphia determined to turn grief into fuel.

His mother had been his greatest source of inspiration, the one who pushed him to pursue football from the very beginning. Adeyi once shared that every time he steps onto the field, he remembers her words: “Play with your whole heart.”

In an emotional statement, Adeyi said:
“I came back to practice right after the funeral to fight for my mom. I thought I’d done enough to stay. To be cut right now… it’s a shock I’ll never forget.”

Coaches praised Adeyi’s resilience and highlighted flashes during the preseason — two impressive catches against the Browns and a critical third-down conversion against the Jets. But overall production remained too limited to guarantee a roster spot.

Inside the locker room, the move hit hard. A veteran player shared: “He came back to camp just two days after burying his mother. Most of us couldn’t even get out of bed after something like that. The kid showed true fight — that’s real Philly grit. To see him cut like this? It hurts.”

Adeyi now heads to waivers, with the possibility of being re-signed to the Eagles’ practice squad if unclaimed. While his NFL path remains uncertain, teammates and fans alike believe his story is far from over.

Whether he stays in Philadelphia or finds a new home, this cut will remain a painful reminder: in the NFL, even personal tragedy cannot slow down the ruthless machinery of roster decisions.

Eagles Star CB Faces Family Tragedy After Week 5 Game as Military-Trained Skydiving Instructor Dies in Nashville
Philadelphia Eagles defensive back Cooper DeJean is mourning a profound personal loss following the team’s Week 5 game , as his cousin Justin Fuller a respected military-trained skydiving instructor, died in a tragic tandem jump accident near Nashville.   Fuller, 35, was fatally injured after becoming separated from his parachute harness mid-air during a jump organized by Go Skydive Nashville. His student survived after landing in a tree with the parachute deployed and was later rescued by firefighters. Police confirmed Fuller’s body was recovered in a wooded area off Ashland City Highway. The Nashville Fire Department called it “one of the most complex high-angle rescues in recent years,” commending its personnel for the effort. Justin Fuller, known by the nickname "Spidey," died after a tandem skydiving jump went wrong on Oct. 4, 2025, near Nashville, Tennessee.  (Facebook/Justin Fuller Spidey ) Fuller, known affectionately as “Spidey,” had completed more than 5,000 jumps and trained U.S. military personnel in advanced aerial maneuvers. Friends described him as “fearless, focused, and committed to lifting others higher — both in life and in the air.”   DeJean —whose mother is the younger sister of Fuller’s mother, grew up admiring his cousin’s discipline and sense of purpose. Family members say that influence helped shape his mental toughness and leadership on the field. A relative told local media, “Justin taught Dejean that strength isn’t about being unbreakable — it’s about standing firm when life hits hardest. That’s exactly how he lives and plays today.” In the Eagles’ defensive system, DeJean has steadily earned complete trust thanks to his versatility — working outside at corner, in the slot (nickel), and on coverage units — and standing out for top-end speed, precise tackling angles, and the ability to read quarterbacks. Coaches describe him as “calm, wise beyond his years, and disciplined at the catch point,” consistently maintaining leverage and finishing clean in tight spaces. Through the first five games of 2025, DeJean has played every defensive snap and totaled 36 tackles (26 solo) with five passes defensed, reinforcing his value on the perimeter and inside.  The Philadelphia Eagles have provided time and private support for DeJean and his family, ensuring he can grieve without team-related obligations. Teammates have stood beside him, honoring both his resilience and his family’s tradition of service. An FAA investigation into the accident is underway, while tributes to “Spidey” continue to pour in across social media from military colleagues, fellow skydivers, and fans nationwide.“He taught others to fly — now he flies higher than all of us,” one tribute read. DeJean kept his public remarks brief before being embraced by teammates:“He taught me not to fear the height — only the moment you forget to look down and pull someone else up with you. This week, I’m playing for him.”