The Philadelphia Eagles entered training camp with a logjam of talent in the backfield.
Offseason acquisitions D’Andre Swift and Rashaad Penny joined holdovers Kenneth Gainwell, Boston Scott, and Trey Sermon in a crowded Eagles’ running back room.
Throughout Eagles’ training camp, it’s been Gainwell that has received the most first-team reps but many beat writers are secretly crossing their fingers that another running back will emerge as the starter.
Some Eagles’ reporters, including Eliot Shorr-Parks, believe that the starting running back job will be Swift’s to lose heading into the regular season.
Does Sirianni Trust Gainwell More Than The Other RBs?
Thus far, Gainwell has refused to give up the top spot on the Eagles’ depth chart.
The third-year running back took over the Eagles’ starting running back job in the 2022 NFL Playoffs, rushing for 181 yards and a touchdown in relief of Miles Sanders.
Head coach Nick Sirianni rewarded Gainwell for his patience and hard work at the beginning of training camp, putting Gainwell ahead of the other running backs on the Eagles’ depth chart.
One of the first running backs acquired under Sirianni, Gainwell was drafted in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He’s spent his entire NFL career in Sirianni’s system, learning the Eagles’ offense. That experience should give him an early edge on the Eagles’ running back competition heading into Week 1.
He’s also gained the trust of the coaching staff as a pass protector, which might lead to more of a split with Swift on third downs than most Eagles’ fans might anticipate.
Swift Turns Heads In Eagles’ Preseason Debut
Swift played well in his preseason debut in Week 1 with the Eagles, finishing with 24 yards on two carries. His best play of the night came on a zone read, where he made a defender miss and showed off his burst in the open field on his way to a 22-yard gain.
Last week, Sirianni sat Swift with the rest of the Eagles’ starters, an indication that Swift may have joined the elite group. On the other hand, free-agent pickup Rashaad Penny has played in both preseason games, finishing with 11 carries for 52 yards in limited action.
If there’s anything that can stop Swift from being a full-time contributor in Philadelphia, it’s his injury history.
Undoubtedly the most talented player in the Eagles’ running back room, Swift has battled injuries and inconsistency throughout his brief NFL career. In fact, Swift has never played an entire NFL season and has missed at least three games in every season that he’s spent in the league.
With that being said, he’s the best receiver out of the group and offers the most big-play ability both on the ground and in the passing game. Swift racked up 156 receptions in his three NFL seasons and he’s fresh off of averaging 8.1 yards per catch as a member of the Lions in 2022.
It seems like he’s just a few big plays away from earning the lion’s share of the workload in the Eagles’ backfield.
