Philadelphia’s path to a win over Tennessee looks pretty simple on paper: stop treating Tank Bigsby like an afterthought.
That’s been the frustration around the Eagles since Week 1, when they edged the Washington Commanders 24-22 but barely used Bigsby at all. Will Shipley actually finished with more carries than him, taking two for four yards, while Bigsby got just one carry for three yards. He did contribute in the return game, though, bringing back two kickoffs for 50 yards.
The complaints didn’t start there. All offseason, Eagles fans wanted Bigsby to get a real workload, and even with Sean Mannion replacing Kevin Patullo as offensive coordinator, the usage still hasn’t changed. For whatever reason, Bigsby remains stuck on the margins, and that’s why the Titans matchup feels like the perfect chance to correct it.
Tennessee just showed last week that its run defense can be had. In a 23-10 loss to the New York Jets, the Titans gave up 152 rushing yards on 39 carries and two touchdowns.
New York didn’t need home-run plays to move the ball, either. The Jets averaged 3.9 yards per carry and kept things alive by stacking up those steady, almost-four-yard gains.
Breece Hall led the way with 102 yards on 22 carries and a touchdown, while Braelon Allen added 40 yards on 10 carries, good for an even four yards per attempt. That kind of production is exactly why Bigsby should be part of the plan if the Eagles are serious about exploiting the matchup.
If Philadelphia gave Bigsby 10 carries against that defense, there’s a real chance he could do damage. He averaged 5.9 yards per carry last season despite working behind a more banged-up offensive line and a play caller who was way too predictable.
Saquon Barkley will still get the bulk of the work. He’s expected to land somewhere in the 18-to-22-carry range and probably get to 100 yards with a chance to score once or twice.
But that shouldn’t mean Bigsby gets left out. Eight to 10 touches would make sense, and even a couple of screen or swing passes could help turn him into more than just a name on the depth chart.
There’s also a case to be made that Bigsby gives the Eagles something Barkley doesn’t always provide in the same way. He has the same breakaway speed, and last season he showed more consistency in his vision for finding open lanes than Barkley, setting up whatever the play was.
The run game was already uneven against Washington, and Barkley took plenty of punishment. He was hit behind the line of scrimmage seven times in that game, though he still finished with 83 yards on 15 carries. Forty-two of those yards came on one run.
Landon Dickerson’s knee injury played a big role in that struggle. He’s now on IR, and Drew Kendall is most likely to step in at left guard.
That only makes the case for using Bigsby stronger. The Eagles can’t keep leaning on Barkley to do everything, especially if it makes the offense easier to read.
Against a Titans defense that just allowed plenty of room on the ground, Bigsby has the speed and vision to matter. The Eagles just have to actually give him the chance.
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Changes to tailgating at the Eagles sports complex are expected to start on October 4, with hand parking set to become part of the routine. Under that system, attendants will direct vehicles into specific spaces, a shift aimed at curbing the oversized tailgate setups that have been spreading across multiple parking spots and creating traffic and parking headaches around the lots.
For fans, the bigger question now is how much those familiar game-day gatherings will change once the new setup is in place. An official explanation from the Eagles or the Sports Complex Parking Venture is still expected, but until that arrives, tailgaters are left reading the tea leaves on a move that looks designed to tighten control of one of the most visible parts of the pregame scene. [Read more 🡒]
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The more unsettled part of the injury picture sits elsewhere, with safety Drew Mukuba out of practice and wearing a compression sleeve on his left leg, while edge rusher Jonathan Greenard continues working his way back from a pec strain. Greenard still has not made his Eagles debut, but the rehabilitation reports have been positive, leaving the team with at least some optimism as it waits to see how quickly the defensive pieces around Carter can come together. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Are Hiding A Line Decision Tennessee Could Expose
Landon Dickersons move to injured reserve has left the Eagles with a real early-season puzzle on the offensive line, and they have been noticeably tight-lipped about how they plan to solve it. With Dickerson sidelined by a bone bruise in his knee until at least Week 6, the discussion has shifted to who gets the next turn inside, with Drew Kendall, Willie Lampkin and Fred Johnson all in the mix as the team tries to protect its interior and keep the offense on schedule.
The timing makes the secrecy a little more interesting, because Tennessee offers exactly the kind of front that can test an unsettled line. The Titans bring a tough interior rush led by All-Pro Jeffery Simmons and John Franklin-Myers, which means the Eagles may not get much time to keep this decision under wraps once the game starts. If there is a wrinkle here, Tennessee has the personnel to expose it. [Read more 🡒]