The Philadelphia Eagles prepare to fly across the pond to play in their first international game since 2024 when they take on the AFC South leading Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday.
Who will be available for the Eagles is one of the many questions surrounding the team, including who will get the lions share of the work in the backfield at running back.
Saquon Barkley injured his hamstring on the second drive of Sunday’s loss to Los Angeles and is considered week-to-week, but is expected to sit this week out.
Tank Bigsby was placed on IR after it was reported he needs core muscle surgery sidelining him for at least four weeks with the timeframe lasting as long as six weeks potentially.
That leaves Will Shipley, the RB3 entering the season, and the newly promoted, Dameon Pierce as the two heakthy running backs on the 53-man roster and practice squad options in Jaydon Blue and Carson Steele.
Now elevated to the 53-man roster, Dameon Pierce, the veteran running back who signed with the Eagles back in March will try and revive his career after spending time with Houston and Kansas City.
The former fourth-round pick by the Texans in 2022 had a solid rookie season rushing for over 900 yards scoring four touchdowns while also hauling in 30 catches for 165 yards and adding another score.
However, since his debut, Pierce has not found that same success. He spent the following two seasons with Houston and rushed for 709 yards with four touchdowns before playing in a limited role with the Chiefs last season where he had just 36 rushing yards across 14 games.
He also has some kick return experience which could allow him to handle returns and spare Shipley from the extra hits this week.
Pierce would provide a nice complement to Shipley’s style of play as a downhill, physical running back who is hungry for a chance at redemption.
“It sucks, just bluntly putting it,” Pierce said during his introductory press conference in the offseason about his diminished impact over the last handful of seasons.
Shipley has not seen a ton of time this season, playing 91 snaps through four games on offense so far. Last week, he saw his second-highest snap share due to the injuries to both Barkley and Bigsby, playing 29 snaps.
He had six carries for 23 yards while also continuing to serve as kick returner for the team where he averaged 21.7 yards per return on three chances.
This Sunday, Shipley could very well be in line for his biggest workload yet as a pro in a game that isn’t a meaningless regular season finale.
So far on the season, he has 15 rushes for 51 yards to go along with four catches for 24 yards.
The fourth-round pick out of Clemson in 2024 most notably had his best game as an Eagle in the NFC Championship blowout against the Washington Commanders where he ran for 77 yards on just four carries, highlighted by a 57-yard dash, before he punched it into the endzone for his first-career touchdown.
Shipley can also catch the football out of the backfield, so he also provides versatility for the Eagles.
“Will’s done a great job,” Sean Mannion said. “He’s been someone who has had a valuable role for us from the outset. We have a ton of confidence with all of our backs on our roster.”
Blue was a fifth-round pick by the Cowboys just last year, but he drew the short straw breaking camp. The Eagles didn’t waste time signing him, who they hosted for a Top 30 visit and have him stashed on their practice squad.
The second-year back doesn’t have nearly as much experience as the rest of the group, appearing in just five games as a pro rushing for 129 yards on 38 carries with a touchdown.
He appears to be on the outside looking in to be elevated to the active roster.
Steele could join Shipley and Pierce in the backfield through a game-day elevation from the practice squad due to his experience and the explosiveness he showed during the preseason. If Steele were to get snaps Sunday, it would be the first time he saw game action in the regular season since 2024 when he played in all 17 games while making three starts with Kansas City.
Whoever joins Shipley, the backfield and Eagles will face a staunch rush defense from the Jaguars who have allowed second-fewest rushing yards per game at 74.3 yards per game.
