Saquon Barkley’s standing in Philadelphia looks as locked in as ever. Against Washington on Sunday, he backed up that reputation and reminded everyone why some around the league still put him at or near the top of the position. The Eagles won the game, but the bigger takeaway after Week 1 was the mess behind him on the running back depth chart.
Before the opener, Tank Bigsby was listed as Barkley’s primary backup. That looked straightforward on paper. It didn’t play out that way on the field.
Bigsby was barely involved in the win over the Commanders. He finished with only six offensive snaps, which ranked third among Eagles running backs.
His stat line was thin: 1 rushing carry, 3 rushing yards, 0 receptions and 0 receiving yards. For a player who entered the game as the top name behind Barkley, it was a quiet and disappointing night.
Will Shipley, who sat third on the depth chart, actually did more with his chances. His production wasn’t overwhelming, but it was enough to outpace Bigsby. Shipley played 10 offensive snaps and posted 2 rushing carries for 4 yards, plus 1 reception for 8 receiving yards.
That outcome was not what the Eagles had planned. Bigsby was supposed to be the clear No. 2 behind Barkley, while Shipley had even been viewed as a possible cut candidate. Instead, Shipley stayed in the picture after a strong training camp and preseason, and the Eagles kept him around.
At 24 years old, Shipley still gives Philadelphia something to work with. The team knows there may be more there. How it sorts out the backup role from here is still up in the air.
Compared with most teams’ injury problems, this is hardly a crisis. But it is a real question mark after Week 1.
In Other News...
Eagles Suddenly Have A Big Chance To Solve A Costly Problem
Landon Dickersons injury has opened a familiar kind of door for the Eagles, the kind that can matter just as much to the cap sheet as it does to the lineup. With one of their most important interior linemen expected to miss at least four games, Philadelphia suddenly has a live test for Drew Kendall, the 2025 fifth-round pick who has been cross-training at guard and now gets a real chance to show he can handle it in game action.
For a team that has poured major money into its defense, finding dependable offensive line production from younger, cheaper players is more than a convenience, it is a necessity. If Kendall holds up, the Eagles could be looking at a long-term answer in a spot where proven depth is usually expensive, and this stretch now becomes a significant evaluation period for a player the organization already views as someone who could start down the line. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Suddenly Have A Cooper DeJean Concern After Rough Debut
Cooper DeJeans first NFL game already came with plenty to unpack, and now it has created a health question for the Eagles as well. The rookie defensive back missed Wednesdays practice because of an undisclosed injury he picked up in Week 1 against the Washington Commanders, and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio confirmed DeJean was dinged during the game.
For Philadelphia, the timing is less than ideal. DeJean had a rough debut, giving up several big plays and drawing penalties, and his availability for Week 2 against the Tennessee Titans is now uncertain. The Eagles were already sorting through the ups and downs of a young player getting thrown into the fire, and now they have to monitor whether he can get back on the field in time to help clean it up. [Read more 🡒]
Three Young Eagles Are Suddenly Under Pressure In Tennessee
As the Eagles get ready for Tennessee, the spotlight is turning to three young players who suddenly have real jobs to do. Rookie wide receiver Makai Lemon, second-year interior lineman Drew Kendall and third-year edge rusher Jalyx Hunt all enter the matchup with different reasons for concern, but the common thread is the same: Philadelphia needs more from them if it wants to keep its winning start intact against a tough Titans team.
Lemons debut was rough enough to put him on the watch list, Kendall is set to step in at left guard with Landon Dickerson injured, and Hunt needs to turn a stop-and-start pass rush into something more dependable. Each of them is being asked to answer a different question in a game where the Eagles cannot afford many soft spots, and Tennessee is a difficult place for any young player to try to settle in. [Read more 🡒]