The Philadelphia Eagles have waived running back Carson Steele from injured reserve with an injury settlement, according to league transaction reports on Tuesday.
The move formally ends Steele’s brief and limited tenure in Philadelphia and clears a roster spot as the team manages a crowded and injury-affected backfield.
Steele, 24, arrived in Philadelphia via a reserve/future contract signed in January 2026 after spending his first two professional seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs.
An undrafted free agent out of the 2024 draft, he had earned a spot on Kansas City’s initial 53-man roster as a rookie and appeared in all 17 games that season, primarily contributing as a fullback and special-teams player.
He finished the year with 56 carries for 183 yards and seven receptions for 26 yards. After being waived following the 2025 preseason, he returned to the Chiefs’ practice squad for the remainder of that campaign.
In Philadelphia, Steele spent most of the 2026 season on the practice squad before receiving two elevations to the active roster.
Promoted more permanently in early October, he saw action in two games and recorded one reception for four yards.
His opportunity was cut short when he suffered a dislocated shoulder during the Eagles’ Week 6 loss to the Carolina Panthers, exiting after a limited snap count that included both offensive and special-teams duties.
The team waived him with an injury designation shortly afterward, and he reverted to injured reserve once he cleared waivers.
An injury settlement of this type typically allows a player to become a free agent once he is healthy enough to practice or play, while providing the club with partial financial relief and roster flexibility.
For Steele, it marks the conclusion of a short chapter in Philadelphia after he had been one of several depth options competing behind Saquon Barkley and others.
The Indiana native’s path to the NFL began at Ball State, where he started for two seasons and earned First-Team All-MAC honors in 2022 after leading the conference in rushing with 1,556 yards and 14 touchdowns.
He transferred to UCLA for his final college season in 2023 before going undrafted. While his professional production has remained modest, his size, blocking ability, and willingness to contribute on special teams have kept him on the periphery of multiple rosters.
With the settlement now official, Steele is free to pursue opportunities elsewhere once his shoulder allows him to return to full participation.
For the Eagles, the transaction is a routine roster management step as they continue navigating injuries at the running back position.
