Justin Rogers Bio
Justin Rogers (born September 12, 2001) is an American professional football defensive tackle. He played college football for the Kentucky Wildcats and the Auburn Tigers before being selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall and listed at 338 pounds, Rogers has built his early professional resume across multiple organizations in quick succession. He currently plays for the Philadelphia Eagles, the latest stop in a developmental path that began in Detroit, Michigan.
Early Life and Background
Justin Rogers was born on September 12, 2001, in Detroit, Michigan, and grew up in the surrounding area. He attended Oak Park High School in Oak Park, Michigan, where he emerged as one of the most highly regarded prep prospects in the region. Coming out of high school, Rogers was rated as a four-star recruit and was considered the top offensive guard and the top overall player in the state of Michigan.
His recruiting profile attracted scholarship offers from several powerhouse programs, including Kentucky, Michigan, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, and LSU. Despite the heavy interest from traditional national powers, Rogers ultimately committed to play college football for the Kentucky Wildcats. The decision to leave the state of Michigan for the Southeastern Conference set the course for his development as a defensive lineman at the highest level of college competition.
Path to American Football
Rogers arrived at Kentucky as a multi-position recruit and quickly earned a starting role. In his freshman season he was an immediate starter at right tackle, an unusual distinction for a young player adjusting to the speed and physicality of college football. By his junior year he had transitioned into a defensive role, working as a starter at right tackle on offense and contributing as a linebacker on defense.
During that junior campaign, Rogers notched 22 tackles for loss, seven sacks, and four forced fumbles, numbers that confirmed his instincts and motor. The versatility he displayed as a high school recruit and early college player helped establish his long-term projection as a defensive tackle at the professional level. That developmental arc led him to the NFL, where his combination of size, length, and athletic background positioned him as a Day 3 prospect in the 2024 draft cycle.
Justin Rogers Career
Early Career at Kentucky (2020–2022)
Justin Rogers spent his first three college seasons with the Kentucky Wildcats, where he developed into a reliable contributor along the defensive front. During the 2020 season finale against rival Alabama, Rogers recorded a then career-high three tackles, signaling his readiness for an expanded role. Across his first two seasons in 2020 and 2021, he tallied 26 tackles, three and a half tackles for loss, and two and a half sacks.
As a junior in 2022, Rogers added 36 tackles, one and a half tackles for loss, and half a sack, demonstrating consistency against the run. When his Kentucky career ended, he had appeared in 33 games and totaled 60 tackles, five tackles for loss, and three sacks. Seeking a new opportunity, Rogers entered the NCAA transfer portal after the 2022 season and committed to finish his college career at Auburn.
Auburn Tigers (2023)
At Auburn, Rogers joined the Tigers for the 2023 season and continued his development within the Southeastern Conference. Working primarily as an interior defender, he recorded 17 tackles, two tackles for loss, and one sack during the year. His single season in orange and blue gave him exposure to a different defensive scheme and helped him refine the techniques that would later catch the attention of NFL scouts.
Following the conclusion of the 2023 season, Rogers declared for the 2024 NFL Draft. The combination of his size, SEC pedigree, and production at both Kentucky and Auburn made him an intriguing late-round option for teams seeking depth along the defensive line. His pre-draft evaluation highlighted the same physical traits and motor that had made him a top-rated recruit coming out of Oak Park.
Dallas Cowboys and Early Professional Career (2024)
Justin Rogers was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the seventh round, 244th overall, of the 2024 NFL Draft. The selection marked the official start of his professional career and gave him a chance to compete for a depth role along the interior of the defensive line. He was released during roster cuts on August 26, 2024, as Dallas trimmed its roster to the regular-season limit.
Three days later, on August 29, 2024, Rogers was signed to the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad, giving him a developmental landing spot. He remained with Cincinnati into the regular season before being signed back to the Dallas Cowboys’ active roster on December 19, 2024. That second stint in Dallas allowed him to finish his rookie year with the organization that originally drafted him.
Seattle Seahawks and Philadelphia Eagles (2025)
On June 18, 2025, the Dallas Cowboys waived Justin Rogers, opening the next chapter of his professional journey. He signed with the Seattle Seahawks on July 21, 2025, hoping to carve out a role in their defensive rotation. That opportunity was short-lived, as the Seahawks waived him on July 29, 2025.
Rogers quickly found another opportunity, signing with the Philadelphia Eagles on August 12, 2025. He was waived on August 26, 2025, as part of the Eagles’ final roster cuts. The moves reflect the typical Day 3 experience for interior defensive linemen, who often transition between practice squads and active rosters as they establish themselves in the league.
Justin Rogers Career Wins
Justin Rogers’s professional resume is still in its early stages, and his career statistics at the NFL level are still being established. As a defensive tackle, his production is typically measured in tackles, tackles for loss, and sacks rather than wins in the traditional statistical sense. His contributions to date have been measured more by his availability, his development across multiple organizations, and his ability to remain on NFL rosters as a rotational and practice-squad player.
Defensive Line Production
During his time at Kentucky, Rogers totaled 60 tackles, five tackles for loss, and three sacks across 33 games. At Auburn in 2023, he added 17 tackles, two tackles for loss, and one sack, giving him a college career line of 77 tackles, seven tackles for loss, and four sacks. These numbers reflect steady rather than spectacular production, but they underlined the consistency that made him a draftable prospect.
Professional Rotations and Milestones
At the professional level, Rogers has not yet posted extensive regular-season defensive statistics, as his time on active rosters has been limited. His primary milestones to date include being drafted in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft, signing with multiple teams, and returning to the Cowboys’ active roster late in his rookie season. Each move has represented a step in his ongoing development.
Justin Rogers Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Justin Rogers was raised in the Detroit, Michigan, area and attended Oak Park High School, where he became one of the most decorated recruits in the state. Limited public information is available regarding his parents, siblings, or extended family details. As a young professional, he has focused his public profile on his football career and his progression through NFL organizations.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been a year of transition for Justin Rogers as he has worked to establish a stable NFL home. After being waived by the Dallas Cowboys in June, he spent a brief period with the Seattle Seahawks before joining the Philadelphia Eagles in August. His time in Philadelphia was again short, as he was waived during the final round of roster cuts on August 26, 2025.
For Rogers, the 2025 campaign is essentially a continuation of his developmental phase, with each stop providing a chance to impress a new coaching staff. The interior defensive line remains a position of need across the league, which keeps open the possibility of a future practice-squad signing or active-roster opportunity. His ability to bounce between organizations and stay ready has become one of the defining traits of his early career.
Looking ahead, Rogers will look to find a consistent role where he can accumulate regular-season snaps and translate his college production into professional statistics. The combination of SEC experience at Kentucky and Auburn, plus exposure to multiple NFL schemes, gives him a versatile foundation to build on. His 2025 journey underscores the patience required for late-round defensive linemen, while also highlighting the persistence that has kept him on NFL rosters since the 2024 draft.