The Philadelphia Eagles released running back Dameon Pierce on Sunday as the team finalized its initial 53-man roster for the 2026 season.
The move comes amid a crowded backfield and the annual pressure of roster cutdowns. Pierce, a veteran who once posted strong production early in his career, became one of several players trimmed from the active roster.
“Eagles released running back Dameon Pierce, per source,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported on X. “They’d like him back on the practice squad.”
Another league source confirmed the decision.
“Eagles releasing former Texans Pro Bowl alternate running back Dameon Pierce, per league source,” NFL reporter Aaron Wilson wrote. “Eagles want him back for the practice squad.”
Pierce had shown flashes during training camp.
“Pierce looked good this summer when healthy but missed some time with injury,” ESPN’s Tim McManus wrote.
The 26-year-old joined the Eagles in March on a one-year contract after spending most of his career with the Houston Texans and wrapping up the previous season with the Kansas City Chiefs. Philadelphia viewed him as a potential backup option behind Saquon Barkley, the 2024 NFL Offensive Player of the Year.
Selected in the fourth round, 107th overall, by the Texans out of Florida in the 2022 NFL draft, Pierce delivered a promising debut season. He carried the ball 220 times for 939 yards and four touchdowns while adding 30 receptions for 165 yards and one score in 13 games. Those numbers helped him rank among the league’s more productive young runners that year.
His output declined in the seasons that followed. In 2023, he managed 416 rushing yards on 145 carries with two touchdowns. The next year brought 293 yards and two scores on just 40 attempts. In 2025, limited opportunities with Houston and then Kansas City produced only 36 rushing yards on 14 carries across five games.
Career totals show 1,684 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 419 attempts, along with 45 receptions for 268 yards and one receiving touchdown. He has also contributed on special teams, recording 656 kick return yards and one return touchdown, highlighted by a 98-yard score in 2023.
That return ability stood out as a potential asset for Philadelphia.
The Texans waived Pierce in November 2025. He signed with the Chiefs’ practice squad shortly afterward and saw limited action later in the year. At 5-foot-10 and around 215 to 218 pounds, the Georgia native still possesses the physical tools that made him effective early on.
With the release, the Eagles’ primary running backs include Barkley, Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley. The team has opted for a leaner group at the position while prioritizing other roster needs. As a vested veteran, Pierce retains the freedom to explore opportunities elsewhere even as Philadelphia signals interest in retaining him on the practice squad.
The decision reflects the tough choices required each August. Pierce’s combination of early-career production, special teams experience and relative youth leaves open the chance he remains connected to the organization in some capacity as the regular season approaches.
