Eagles cut former fourth-round pick Donnel Pumphrey

The 5-foot-8, 185-pound back who broke the FBS rushing record at San Diego State with 6,405 yards was the first running back let go.

Eagles running back Donnel Pumphrey (35) returns a kick during a preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer

by EJ Smith

Published Aug. 30, 2019, 7:26 p.m. ET

Donnel Pumphrey didn’t make it through cutdown day for the second season in a row.

The Eagles’ 2017 fourth-round draft pick didn’t show much during the preseason at running back or as a returner on special teams. He was on the outside looking in on one of the team’s deepest position groups, and will now be sweating out the next couple of days as teams form their 53-man rosters.

The 5-foot-8, 185-pound back who broke the FBS rushing record at San Diego State with 6,405 yards was the first running back waived out of the eight-man group.

Trade acquisition Jordan Howard and second-round draft pick Miles Sanders are locks to make the team, and veteran Darren Sproles figures to have a spot. If the Eagles carry just four running backs, the final spot will go to Corey Clement, Josh Adams, Wendell Smallwood or Boston Scott.

Pumphrey made the team his rookie season but was placed on injured reserve a week into the season with a hamstring injury. The same nagging hamstring cost him part of last year’s preseason, and he was cut. He spent a few weeks on the Detroit Lions’ practice squad before being waived and placed on the Eagles’ practice squad.

Across the four preseason games, Pumphrey rushed for 43 yards on 11 attempts. On special teams, his longest punt return was 15 yards, and he averaged 7.0 yards per return.