Eagles’ Running Back Situation Worsens

The Eagles’ running back depth is dwindling quickly.

In a narrow 19-17 defeat against the Jaguars in London, Will Shipley, who was stepping in for Saquon Barkley due to a hamstring issue, suffered a partial plantar fascia tear and had to leave the game in the second quarter.

This injury could keep him sidelined for several weeks, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday.

With Shipley out and backup Tank Bigsby already on injured reserve, the Eagles are facing a growing list of running back injuries.

During the game, the fourth-stringer Dameon Pierce and Shipley managed only 20 yards on 16 carries, although Shipley did score a touchdown in the first half that put points on the board for Philadelphia.

Now, the team has no choice but to rely on Pierce and 23-year-old fifth-stringer Carson Steele.

After a Week 4 loss to the Rams, the Eagles were already missing nine starters. This situation deteriorated further when veteran Lane Johnson announced his retirement midweek for mental health reasons.

By Monday, the injury tally had increased by four—offensive lineman Tyler Steen (shoulder), defensive back Michael Carter II (abdomen), linebacker Jalyx Hunt (ankle, knee), and Shipley were all out. The latter three injuries were sustained during the game.

At one point, the Eagles had only one original member of their starting offensive line on the field, as noted by The Athletic.

The offense really needs some support. In contrast, the defense performed well against the Jaguars, making crucial goal-line stops.

The Eagles are currently near the bottom of the league statistics, just ahead of the winless Titans in total net yards per game (262.2), sitting 28th in passing yards (170.6) and 22nd in rushing yards (91.6).

Interestingly, they haven’t scored a second-half touchdown since their victory in Week 2 over the Titans.

This is the first season for offensive coordinator Sean Mannion, and it’s also the sixth different coordinator for quarterback Jalen Hurts in his seven years in the NFL.

As the game wound down, Hurts managed to drive the offense to a field goal that gave the Eagles a slim 17-16 lead. Unfortunately, they left eight seconds for the Jaguars after the kick, resulting in some intense reactions from the sidelines.

Jacksonville took advantage of this, returning the kickoff for 53 yards and setting up a game-winning 57-yard field goal by Cam Little.

Head coach Nick Sirianni took responsibility for the decision-making in the final moments, and it’s evident the team has a lot of issues to work through, especially considering the injuries.

The Eagles are set to return home to face the Panthers in Week 6, followed by a matchup against the Cowboys in Week 7.