The NFL free agency is in full swing, and the teams around the league are scrambling to round out their rosters ahead of next season. The Philadelphia Eagles are among the teams that lost several key contributors in free agency without the ability to replace them. On the defensive side of the ball especially, the Eagles will look like a completely different team in 2025.
Last week also saw plenty of former Eagles players and familiar faces involved in transactions. One of those names was former Philadelphia QB Gardner Minshew.
When the league year officially began on Wednesday afternoon, the Las Vegas Raiders released Minshew with a failed physical designation.
#Raiders released Gardner Minshew with failed physical designation, also cut Andre James
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 13, 2025
NFL News: QB Gardner Minshew Released With Failed Physical Designation
Minshew's release was to be expected. The team had informed the veteran signal-caller of his pending release before free agency opened. The failed physical designation, however, is new information.
The designation was created to ensure that players who sustain major injuries retain some income after they are released. This provides some protection for players who may struggle to get a new contract before the season.
Minshew qualified for this designation because he sustained a season-ending broken collarbone in Week 11 against the Denver Broncos. Before the injury, Minshew had started in nine games for the Raiders, despite being briefly benched in favor of Aidan O'Connell. The 28-year-old was under contract for one more season with $3.16 million in salary guarantees for 2025.
The former Eagles QB spent two seasons in Philadelphia, starting four games as Jalen Hurts' backup. He ended his Eagles tenure with seven touchdowns, four interceptions, a 92.8 passer rating, and a 1-3 record.
Once he recovers from his injury, Minshew should have plenty of suitors on the market as a solid QB2.
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