Philadelphia Eagles have released Tim Tebow

PHILADELPHIA — Tebow’s time is up in Philadelphia.

The Eagles released Tim Tebow on Saturday along with 21 other players before the NFL’s roster deadline at 4 p.m.

Tebow had seemingly won the No. 3 quarterback job when Philadelphia traded Matt Barkley to Arizona on Friday. But coach Chip Kelly cut Tebow following his best preseason performance at the New York Jets on Thursday night.

The 2007 Heisman Trophy winner was trying to return to the NFL after missing two seasons.

The Eagles currently have only two quarterbacks on the roster: Sam Bradford and Mark Sanchez. Bradford looked sharp in limited preseason action, but he had surgery to repair a torn left ACL twice since he last played in a regular-season game in October 2013.

It’s possible Tebow returns to the Eagles if either Bradford or Sanchez get hurt. He also can come back after the season opener and his contract won’t be guaranteed.

For now, the Eagles are going forward without him.

Tebow was 11 for 17 for 189 yards, two touchdowns and one interception against the Jets. He showed his accuracy has improved since his first stint in the NFL. Tebow finished the preseason 21 of 36 for 286 yards, two TDs and one interception. He also ran for 82 yards and one TD.

Tebow last played in a regular-season game with the Jets in 2012. He was cut by New England in training camp in 2013. He worked as a college football analyst on the SEC Network last year, but got another chance to play in the NFL when the Eagles signed him in the offseason.

Tebow led Florida to the national championship his junior season and was a first-round pick by Denver in 2010. He started 16 games during two seasons with the Broncos, including a playoff victory over Pittsburgh in January 2012. Tebow was traded to the Jets after Denver signed Peyton Manning.