Eagles Cut Star Rookie from Active Roster After Missing Team Bus to Lincoln Financial Field Right Before Rams Showdown

The player in question is Kyle McCord, a 22-year-old quarterback selected in the sixth round (No. 181 overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft out of Syracuse. A Philadelphia native who grew up dreaming of donning the Eagles’ green while starring at St. Joseph’s Prep, McCord signed a four-year rookie contract worth approximately $4.2 million. With Tanner McKee still recovering from a minor ankle injury sustained in training camp, McCord was slated to step into the QB2 role for this game, testing new tactical plays to leverage his quick decision-making and hometown pride. However, a morning mishap derailed those plans. The Eagles’ team bus, carrying players and staff, departed the NovaCare Complex at around 9:00 AM for the short trip to Lincoln Financial Field, adhering to the standard 3.5-hour pre-kickoff arrival protocol. Sources close to the team reveal that McCord, who resides nearby in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, and often commutes independently, overslept after a late-night film session studying the defensive tendencies of Rams coordinator Chris Shula. Rushing to the complex, he arrived just minutes after the bus left, forcing him to take an Uber in a desperate attempt to reach the stadium on time.

When McCord arrived at Lincoln Financial Field around 9:45 AM—still early enough for warm-ups—it was too late. General Manager (GM) Howie Roseman, who oversees the team’s personnel decisions, opted to list him as inactive, elevating veteran Sam Howell from the practice squad to serve as the backup quarterback behind Jalen Hurts. “In this league, preparation starts with showing up alongside your brothers,” an anonymous team source shared. “Kyle’s a talented kid with Philly roots, but you can’t build trust if you’re not on the bus—literally.”

In a pre-game press conference, GM Howie Roseman, known for his pragmatic approach and strategic vision in roster construction, expressed his disappointment over the incident. He stated:

“This isn’t college, where you can show up late and still get snaps. The NFL is a cutthroat business, and every second matters. Kyle has the arm, the smarts, and the Philly grit, and we had him in the game plan as QB2 today to test some plays while Tanner’s still rehabbing. But when you miss the team bus, you’re not just letting yourself down—you’re letting the whole team down. We need players who bleed for this jersey, not ones who let mistakes hold them back.”

Roseman emphasized that sidelining McCord was a broader message to the locker room, especially as the Eagles rely on depth to navigate minor injuries to key players like left tackle Lane Johnson and the ongoing recovery of Tanner McKee.

For McCord, being scratched from the gameday roster marks a turbulent start to his NFL career. A five-star high school recruit, he set a Philadelphia Catholic League record with 6,887 passing yards and 88 touchdowns at St. Joseph’s Prep. After transferring from Ohio State to Syracuse, he exploded onto the national stage, earning ACC Offensive Player of the Year honors. Drafted as a developmental project in Roseman’s “QB factory” vision, McCord impressed in OTAs with his quick release and poise in the pocket, drawing comparisons to a young Carson Wentz for his composure under pressure.

However, his preseason performance was shaky—most notably a full-game start against the Jets, where he posted a 43.1 passer rating—leading to his waiver and re-signing to the practice squad on August 27 after final cuts. Elevated to the active roster in Week 2 after strong scout-team reps mimicking Patrick Mahomes, McCord had fans dreaming of a fairy-tale moment: a Philly kid stepping in as QB2 at The Linc, running tailored plays in front of a roaring home crowd while McKee