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Eagles newcomers ’26: Can Uar Bernard deliver on hopes for a feel-good story?

Plus, former Chiefs Pro Bowl alternate Carson Steele tries to make the squad as a fullback.

Eagles defensive tackle Uar Bernard warms up during mandatory minicamp last month.
Eagles defensive tackle Uar Bernard warms up during mandatory minicamp last month. Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer

With Eagles training camp drawing nearer, The Inquirer is taking a closer look at the more than three dozen new faces who are expected to report along with the rest of the team on July 28.

Player: Uar Bernard

Position: Defensive tackle

Age: 21

Previous experience: Here’s the thing about Bernard: He doesn’t have any previous experience in football. The Eagles picked him in the seventh round (No. 251 overall) in April’s draft. The native of Nigeria is a product of the NFL’s International Player Pathway program who impressed scouts with his superb athleticism and frame. The 6-foot-4 Bernard boasts a 6% body fat percentage (despite being 306 pounds) and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.63 seconds.

» READ MORE: Two coaches in Nigeria — and an ex-New York Giant — helped Uar Bernard reach the NFL. Back then, he had a nickname: ‘Bigfoot’

Path to a roster spot: It’s difficult to predict Bernard’s chances of making the roster, since he’s such a raw prospect. The main factor is whether the Eagles want to risk putting him on the practice squad, which would expose him to being signed by other teams. He’ll need to make enough progress to show that he can occupy one of the much-coveted 53 roster spots, and the Eagles will need to come out of camp deep enough along the defensive line to allow it to happen.

Fun fact: Bernard’s original plan was to go into real estate. His football journey began when a coach noticed him while playing basketball in his village in Nigeria.

Quotable: “Before the IPP, I was introduced to football by [former NFL player] Osi Umenyiora,” Bernard said on draft night. “So I was back home watching drills about pass rush and walking into the trenches with my coaches back home, learning techniques. … But I can walk into the trenches.”

Player: Carson Steele

Position: Fullback

Age: 23

Previous experience: Steele is entering his third NFL season. He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2024 after stints at Ball State and UCLA. Steele was waived by the Chiefs last August and spent the season on the practice squad. The Eagles signed him to a reserve/future contract in January.

Path to a roster spot: It remains to be seen whether the Eagles will keep a fullback. Tight end Cameron Latu transitioned to fullback last season and was a decent blocker. Steele also has special teams value — his last meaningful snaps came there against the Eagles in Super Bowl LIX. Steele making the team over Latu rests on his training-camp output and versatility.

Fun fact: Steele had an impactful rookie season, was named an alternate for the Pro Bowl following the 2024 season, and finished second behind Baltimore’s Patrick Ricard for AFC fullbacks in the Pro Bowl voting.

Quotable: “My main goal was to try be like a Swiss Army knife, try to do it all,” Steele told Kansas City reporters in 2024, when describing his play style.

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Eagles’ newcomers ’26

Whether a 2026 draft choice, a veteran addition, or a rookie free-agent hopeful, we’re telling you more about each player’s potential role this season. We’re rolling out two players per day in a mostly unscientific order that balances offense and defense, bigger names with mysteries, and locks with longer shots to be chosen for the 53-man roster.

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