Thomas Booker IV is upset after roster cuts at the Philadelphia Eagles

The day of NFL roster reductions is behind us, and for players on the verge of being cut, the news is often not good.

At first glance, the Philadelphia Eagles' initial 53-man roster holds a few surprises. The team relied heavily on defensive tackle (6) and defensive back (11), but remained slim at tight end (2) and offensive line (9).

A young, up-and-coming defensive tackle was eager to join the team.

Thomas Booker IV, a former fifth-round pick of the Houston Texans, entered Eagles training camp as a relative unknown after spending all of last season on the practice squad. He enters the 2024 regular season on the active roster.

Here's what the 24-year-old said after surviving the day of the cut:

Grateful is an understatement. Let's get to it! #FlyingEagleFlying https://t.co/I5MOpSexw1

— Thomas Booker (@TheThomasBooker) 27 August 2024

Eagles general manager Howie Roseman answered questions from local media on Tuesday night and shed light on Booker's offseason.

“He lived in the facility,” Roseman said. “Incredible work ethic. Obviously an incredibly smart guy, a Stanford guy. He has all the makings of it. Just an incredible tribute to him and how hard he worked.”

Roseman and the Eagles turned away from recruiting undrafted free agents before training camp and instead signed 20 players to futures contracts. Booker signed one of those deals. He made an impression last year while working primarily on the scout team, but this year he earned his spot on the roster thanks to a stellar preseason. In 70 snaps in the preseason, he had eight pressures and one sack, a pressure rate of 11.4%.

“When you look at his performance and his exit and his ability to play with pressure and power, to influence the quarterback and create disruption in the backfield around the quarterback,” Roseman said, “it was clear to us that the guy deserved to be on the team.”

And in this case, no news was really good news for Booker.

“I probably should have told him before I told you,” Roseman joked.

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