Philadelphia, PA – The Philadelphia Eagles shocked fans on Monday by making a roster move as cold as it was abrupt, cutting a newly-acquired wide receiver the same day the team celebrated his birthday in the locker room.
The decision came as Philadelphia reshuffled its depth chart ahead of Week 10, with injuries piling up across multiple positions. The timing felt ruthless — another reminder that in the NFL, the business never pauses for sentiment.
Coaches had reportedly been weighing the move for days, debating his fit in the offense and lack of special-teams value. He showed flashes, but never locked down a defined role.
That player was Terrace Marshall Jr., the 25-year-old former LSU standout who just blew out his birthday candles hours before the news broke. “I was still laughing over a slice of cake when they called me upstairs,” Marshall told a teammate.
“To be released on your birthday — by the same team that just sang to you? That’s a shock you don’t forget.”
Marshall signed with Philadelphia in late September, hoping to revive his career after short stints in Carolina and Buffalo. He showed chemistry in red-zone reps, but the crowded WR room — combined with the Eagles prioritizing roster spots for offensive line depth — left him on the outside.
With DeVonta Smith managing an ankle sprain and A.J. Brown playing through a hip issue, many assumed Marshall would survive roster tweaks. Instead, the Eagles chose to keep younger practice-squad receivers and elevate a tight end for blocking support.
Philadelphia now carries six wide receivers, but two are dealing with minor injuries heading into a crucial NFC matchup against the Cowboys. Marshall could return if he clears waivers, but league interest in his 6’2″ frame and former second-round pedigree makes that unlikely.
For a player once labeled a breakout candidate, the contrast couldn’t have been sharper. One moment he was being handed a birthday cupcake in midnight green. The next, he was reminded that in pro football, even your birthday isn’t safe from the transaction wire.
49ers’ Mac Jones Reveals the Heartbreaking Reason Behind His Unauthorized Substitution — HC Shanahan Emotionally Withdraws Fine After Learning the Truth
Santa Clara, Sunday night. The San Francisco 49ers had just beaten the New York Giants 34–24, and Levi’s Stadium was still echoing with cheers. But the moment that truly defined the night wasn’t on the scoreboard and never made the highlight shows. It unfolded in silence — a single kneel-down that changed two lives.
With only seconds left, quarterback Mac Jones suddenly stepped out of the huddle, raised his hand, and called out: “Adrian, you’re up.” No one on the sideline saw it coming. Head coach Kyle Shanahan had already taken off his headset and didn’t realize the substitution had happened. Rookie Adrian Martinez ran in, took the final snap, and went to a knee — ending the game.
When the news reached the front office, the reaction was swift. Jones was fined $20,000 and suspended, per team citation, for violating the in-game communication policy. Shanahan, known for precision and authority, was said to be livid — until he heard the full story the next morning.
Behind that quiet moment was a story Jones never intended to tell. Martinez had been overlooked in Detroit and New York — a once-promising QB turned afterthought, a permanent backup few trusted. The 49ers were the only team to pull him from the brink, signing him to a special contract: he would only enter a game if both Brock Purdy and Mac Jones were unable to play, and each time he touched the field in a win, he’d earn a $50,000 bonus. It wasn’t just a player deal — it was a “responsibility contract,” binding him to the role of last resort: always ready, always waiting, and only paid for the chance if the team won and he actually stepped onto the field. Six weeks passed without a single snap. Meanwhile, his mother — Maria — was fighting cancer. Hospital bills piled up, insurance ran dry, and the next round of chemotherapy hinged on whether he could get on the field. Waiting on the sideline wasn’t just waiting for football — it was waiting for a chance to save his mother.
And Mac Jones understood that. Without asking permission, without clearing it with the staff, without thinking about the backlash, Jones left the field to give that moment to the person who needed it more. One kneel-down worth $50,000 — enough to pay for two rounds of chemo that could extend a life.
Soon after, according to an internal 49ers source, Shanahan called Jones into his office. What followed wasn’t a reprimand — it was a long silence. Jones explained everything: the contract clause, Maria’s medical bills, and why he couldn’t stand by and do nothing. When he finished, Shanahan stared at his desk for a moment and then quietly said:
“We build the 49ers on trust — not impulse. But sometimes, the heart calls the right play before the headset.”
That afternoon, the punishment was rescinded. The team’s review classified the act as “an extraordinary exception born of compassion.”
When told the decision had been reversed, Jones simply said:
“I didn’t save anyone. I just did the right thing. That kneel was worth more than $50,000 — it bought a mother some hope.”
Adrian Martinez heard the news in the locker room. He broke down, hugged Jones, and choked out:
“You didn’t just save my career… you saved my mom.”
The NFL didn’t log that kneel-down in any highlight. No metric scores compassion. But everyone in the 49ers’ room knew: it was the most beautiful play of the night — not part of the box score, but something that stays in the heart.
One kneel ended the game. It also made a head coach pull back a punishment — and gave a son a little more time with his mother.
