If nothing changes between now and the start of training camp, the Philadelphia Eagles will arrive in late July with five tailbacks and one fullback on the roster. If Sean Mannion’s offense borrows concepts from the systems popularized by Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay, fullback Carson Steele may have a clear path toward making the roster, maybe.
At running back, however, the math becomes more complicated. Philadelphia carried three tailbacks for much of last season, and there is a reasonable argument that they could follow a similar blueprint again. That makes every roster spot important. Here are the biggest questions facing each member of Philadelphia’s backfield.
Saquon Barkley
Have Eagles fans already seen the best version of Saquon Barkley?
This feels like an unfair question until you remember what Barkley accomplished during his first season in Philadelphia. Nobody expected him to join the 2,000-yard rushing club. Even fewer expected him to do it immediately after arriving. Still, history has always told us that following a 2,000-yard campaign with another equally dominant season is extraordinarily difficult. The physical toll alone makes that challenge daunting. Barkley followed suit and followed his Offensive Player of the Year campaign with a more modest 1,140 rushing yards last season.
That’s still a productive season by normal standards, but it naturally raises questions about whether his absolute peak is already behind him. The Eagles believe a healthier offensive line and a longer offseason could help reverse that trend. Another interesting subplot remains whether Howie Roseman extended Barkley too early or whether he simply secured a franchise cornerstone before the price increased.
Tank Bigsby
Will the Eagles remember how effective this player can be?
Few players earned fan support as quickly as Tank Bigsby. When given opportunities, he ran with purpose, power, and aggression. He consistently fell forward, bringing an element of physicality that fit perfectly within Philadelphia’s offensive identity.
Many Eagles fans believe Bigsby deserved more touches than he received. They may have a point. If Philadelphia can find ways to increase its workload without diminishing Barkley’s impact, the Eagles could develop one of the league’s better one-two punches. The question isn’t whether Bigsby can contribute. The question is whether the coaching staff will consistently make room for him.
Will Shipley
Can Sean Mannion find a meaningful role for Shipley?
Shipley remains one of the more difficult players on the roster to evaluate. His snap count increased from Year 1 to Year 2, yet his rushing opportunities declined. The Eagles experimented with him as a kick returner, but he never fully established himself there either. That’s what makes training camp important. Shipley does several things reasonably well, but the Eagles still need to identify what he does exceptionally well. There is only one football to distribute among Barkley, DeVonta Smith, Makai Lemon, Dallas Goedert, and several other offensive weapons. Finding a niche could determine Shipley’s future.
Dameon Pierce
Is he competing for a roster spot or a practice squad role?
Pierce enters camp facing an uphill climb. His rushing production has declined over the past several seasons, and he has never developed into a major receiving threat. If the Eagles keep only three tailbacks, Pierce may need to outperform multiple competitors simply to remain in the conversation. There are reasons for optimism. His kick-return experience provides additional value, and his former draft pedigree still carries some weight. The problem is that roster spots aren’t awarded based on what a player used to be. Philadelphia will need to determine what Pierce can be right now.
Elijah Mitchell
How much tape can he put together for other teams?
Sometimes, training camp becomes less about making one roster and more about auditioning for another. Mitchell may fall into that category. His familiarity with concepts that resemble portions of Philadelphia’s offensive scheme could help him during preseason action, but the path to a roster spot appears crowded. Unless injuries change the equation, Mitchell’s best opportunity may be using preseason games to showcase himself for organizations seeking backfield depth elsewhere.
That’s not necessarily a bad outcome. Plenty of players have leveraged strong preseason performances into opportunities with other franchises.
Carson Steele
Is he already a roster lock?
Pay very close attention to Carson Steele. Fullbacks are uncommon in today’s NFL, but they remain valuable in offenses influenced by Shanahan-style principles. That’s why Steele’s presence feels noteworthy.
If the Eagles intend to feature those concepts, Steele’s role becomes obvious. He can lead block, contribute on special teams, and provide versatility that many modern offenses simply don’t possess. The alternative would be to attempt to sneak him onto the practice squad and elevate him early in the season before he must be elevated to the 53-man roster.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Biggest questions facing every RB on the Eagles’ roster
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