Eagles’ New DT Fires Shots at Cowboys After Signing in Philly - "A Broken System"

Philadelphia, PA – August 13, 2025

 Justin Rogers hasn’t even unpacked his bags in Philadelphia, but he’s already stirred the pot in one of football’s fiercest rivalries.

The defensive tackle — a 2024 seventh-round pick by the Dallas Cowboys — signed with the Eagles on August 12 after brief stints with the Bengals’ practice squad and the Seahawks. Rogers struggled to earn a starting role in Dallas, bouncing between the practice squad and inactive list before being cut earlier this summer.

Now, with a fresh start in midnight green, Rogers isn’t holding back about his old team.

“In Dallas, I felt like nobody really cared about developing young players. Everything was rigid, unclear — I didn’t know what I had to do to earn a shot,” Rogers said. “With the Eagles, at least I know I’m fighting for a real opportunity — not stuck in some outdated system.”

Rogers’ remarks come as the Cowboys face growing criticism for their locker room culture and handling of young talent. His departure adds another layer of tension to an already heated Eagles–Cowboys rivalry.

For Philadelphia, his arrival also meant parting ways with long snapper Christian Johnstone, who was released with a designation to return from the reserve list. With that move, veteran Charley Hughlett is now the Eagles’ only active long snapper.

Rogers, who began his college career at Kentucky before transferring to Auburn for his final season, insists his move to Philadelphia is about more than just making the 53-man roster.

“All I want is a fair shot,” he said. “And I believe I’ll get that here in Philly.”

The Eagles brought him in to bolster their interior rotation during preseason — but the timing, just weeks before facing Dallas, ensures extra attention on the newcomer. In a rivalry defined by bad blood, Rogers may have just added fuel to the fire.

In Philly, words matter almost as much as plays. Now it’s up to Rogers to prove his belong in midnight green — and to let his game talk when the Cowboys come to town.