The Philadelphia Eagles have released running back Dameon Pierce from injured reserve via an injury settlement, ending his brief and largely underwhelming tenure with the team.
The move was revealed on the NFL transaction wire.
Pierce’s time in Philadelphia was defined by the franchise’s ongoing crisis at the position.
He signed a one-year deal in March after a brief stint with the Kansas City Chiefs, hoping to provide experienced depth behind Saquon Barkley.
Released during final roster cuts in late August, he was quickly brought back to the practice squad.
When injuries began mounting—Barkley dealing with a lingering hamstring and subsequent back issues, Tank Bigsby sidelined after core-muscle surgery, Will Shipley lost to a foot injury, and others affected—the Eagles elevated Pierce to the active roster in early October.
In three games, Pierce carried the ball 37 times for 96 yards and two touchdowns while adding seven receptions for 14 yards.
His most productive outing came in a Week 7 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, when he rushed 14 times for 47 yards and a score after Barkley was limited.
That night ended with Pierce limping off in the fourth quarter. Days later, on October 28, the Eagles placed him on injured reserve with an undisclosed injury, making him the fourth running back on the list alongside Bigsby, Shipley, and others.
He was expected to miss at least four games.
The injury settlement allows Pierce to seek opportunities elsewhere immediately rather than remaining sidelined on the Eagles’ roster.
For Philadelphia, the decision clears a roster spot as the team continues to manage a depleted backfield that has forced constant adjustments.
Barkley has played through pain but at reduced effectiveness, while the organization has cycled through options including Jaydon Blue and Elijah Mitchell.
Pierce’s 2.6 yards-per-carry average reflected both the limited opportunities and the broader struggles of an offense dealing with instability.
A fourth-round pick by the Houston Texans in 2022, Pierce burst onto the scene with 939 rushing yards as a rookie before production and role diminished in subsequent seasons.
His Eagles chapter proved short, marked more by the circumstances of a battered depth chart than by sustained impact.
Now a free agent once again, he will look for a fresh chance as Philadelphia moves forward with its remaining options in a season defined by attrition at running back.
