The Eagles are staring at a backfield setup nobody would have predicted before the season started, and Elijah Mitchell is suddenly right in the middle of it.
With Saquon Barkley missing two straight days of practice because of hamstring and back injuries, Philadelphia’s running back room has been stripped down to almost nothing. Tank Bigsby, Will Shipley, and Dameon Pierce are all on IR, and Carson Steele was also on IR before being released in an injury settlement. That leaves Mitchell and Jaydon Blue as the only healthy backs.
That kind of depth chart would have sounded absurd in Week 1. It doesn’t now.
Mitchell’s path to this moment has been a strange one. A sixth-round pick by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2021 NFL Draft, he exploded onto the scene immediately, piling up 963 rushing yards and five touchdowns in 11 games while adding 137 receiving yards and another score. For a while, it looked like San Francisco had found a real weapon.
But injuries changed everything. Mitchell’s production dropped to 560 rushing yards and four touchdowns across 2022 and 2023, he missed all of 2024, and he lost his job. He spent last season with the Kansas City Chiefs, though he appeared in only one game and didn’t record any stats.
Philadelphia brought him in this summer, viewing him as a fit for new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion’s system, which mirrors what Kyle Shanahan runs in San Francisco. That idea didn’t last long, though. Mitchell was cut during training camp before the Eagles brought him back last week ahead of their Week 7 game against the Dallas Cowboys.
He made the most of that chance. Barkley was limited to 10 snaps against Dallas because of the hamstring and back issues, and when Pierce went down in the fourth quarter, Mitchell got his opening.
He responded with three carries for 11 yards and three catches for 23 yards. He also handled kickoff returns after Britain Covey got hurt, finishing with three returns for 27 yards.
That performance matters now because it appears to have pushed Mitchell ahead of Blue entering Week 8 against the Washington Commanders. Mitchell is in line to start, with Blue as the likely backup.
One reason the Eagles may lean Mitchell’s way is his passing-game value. He has looked more effective catching the ball out of the backfield than Pierce, and Tanner McKee has been prone to dumping the ball off to the running backs. That gives Mitchell a real path to staying involved even if the run game is shaky.
Barkley would be the preferred option for Sunday night, but all signs point to Mitchell carrying the load. For a player who was cut in camp and had to claw his way back onto the roster, that’s a remarkable turn. And if he comes through again, the Eagles may have found their unexpected answer in the backfield.
In Other News...
Howie Roseman May Be Headed For Another Risky Eagles Draft Bet
The Eagles path through the 2026 season could leave them picking earlier than usual in the 2027 draft, and if that happens, Howie Roseman may again lean into a familiar kind of gamble. Philadelphia has never been shy about betting on traits, especially when a defensive players upside is strong enough to make the rest of the room think twice, and Rosemans history suggests hes willing to keep making that kind of call if the board breaks right.
One name to watch is Stewart, an edge defender whose physical tools have put him on the radar as a potential first-round target. The attraction is obvious for a team that wants impact talent, but the concerns are just as real, with questions around decision-making and a suspension already part of the evaluation. If the Eagles do find themselves in position to add help early in the draft, the bigger question may not be whether Stewart fits the profile, but whether Roseman is ready to take the same kind of swing again. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Suddenly Look Thin In One Area Before Washington
The injury report keeps getting heavier for the Eagles as they work through the week before facing Washington, with a growing list of regulars missing their second straight practice. Saquon Barkley and DeVonta Smith were among six players sidelined again, leaving Philadelphia to manage a notable shortfall at a time when depth matters most. Fourteen others were still logged as limited or full participants, but the overall picture has the team juggling a lot more than a standard late-week tune-up.
Barkley is dealing with hamstring and back issues, while Smiths hamstring problem is creating real concern about whether he can make it back in time for another game. With Jihaad Campbell, Dontayvion Wicks, Jonathan Jones and Britain Covey also out again, the Eagles are suddenly looking thin in a few key spots as the Commanders game approaches. For a team trying to stay on schedule, the next practice report could carry plenty of weight. [Read more 🡒]
Howie Roseman Faces A Trade Deadline Eagles Fans May Hate
The trade deadline usually asks general managers to decide whether to chase the present or protect the future, and Howie Roseman is staring at a version of that dilemma with the Eagles. A disappointing record has made the coming days harder to read, and with roster holes still lingering in the pass rush and backfield depth, Philadelphia has to weigh whether it can realistically stay competitive in the NFC East while also looking for ways to restock the cupboard.
Roseman has never been shy about working the phones, and this year could push him toward moving some veterans on expiring deals in hopes of collecting draft capital. At the same time, not every name on the roster is up for discussion, especially players the organization values for more than just their production, which is why the final approach to the deadline could end up saying as much about the Eagles long-term direction as it does about this season. [Read more 🡒]