State Of The Eagles’ Running Backs
The Eagles used a running back by committee approach during the 2021 season. It was successful as the Eagles led the entire NFL in rushing with 2,715 yards on the ground. Will this trend continue this upcoming season? Here is the current state of the Eagles’ running backs.
Dual Threat Quarterback
The Eagles offense is led by dual threat quarterback Jalen Hurts. In 2021, Hurts led the Eagles in rushing with 784 yards and 10 rushing touchdowns. While it is great to see Hurts runaway from defensive pressure, it makes him more vulnerable to injury.
Going in 2022, Hurts will be expected to throw the ball more. Philadelphia upgraded the receiver room by trading for former Titans WR A.J. Brown. The team also picked up free agent Zach Pascal who was a former Colt. These two newcomers will join Devonta Smith, Quez Watkins, and Dallas Goedert as the Eagles form a dangerous receiving threat. Jalen Hurts will likely run the ball a lot, but not as much as last season.
Miles Sanders
Miles Sanders is one of the biggest question marks on the current roster. He has talent and potential but has regressed since his successful rookie year. Sanders had a career low 754 rushing yards and no touchdowns in 2021. He did miss five games due to injury but must be more consistent and reliable. 2022 will be his final year on his current contract with the Eagles.
Fans will have high expectations for the former Penn State star. He has big play abilities but has also been known to turn over the ball in critical situations. Hopefully Sanders takes a step forward in 2022 and becomes the team’s leading rusher.
Boston Scott
Boston Scott is a familiar face to Eagles fans. He has been in the league since 2018 and was originally a sixth-round draft pick by the New Orleans Saints. Scott did not make the Saints’ final roster cuts, but quickly found a home on the Eagles’ practice squad that same year.
Scott appeared in 11 games during the 2019 season and had a role in playoff clinching wins towards the end of the year. Through three seasons, Scott has racked up nearly 1,000 yards on the ground and 500 receiving yards. Scott will likely compete with Kenneth Gainwell as the team’s second running back.
Kenneth Gainwell
Gainwell is likely the Eagles’ second or third running back on the roster, so he should see a decent amount of playing time this year. He was selected by the Eagles in the fifth round of the 2021 draft out of Memphis. Gainwell did not play during the 2020 college football season but was a First-Team All-ACC as a freshman in 2019.
Gainwell played in 16 games during the 2021 season. He finished with 68 carries for 291 yards (4.3 yards per carry) and 5 touchdowns, while adding 33 receptions for 253 yards and 1 touchdown. These are pretty good numbers for a rookie with limited playing time. Hopefully the Eagles use Gainwell more in 2022 to see what his potential is.
Jason Huntley
Jason Huntley spent the vast majority of the 2021 and 2020 seasons on the Eagles’ practice squad. He was a former Lions’ fifth round pick in the 2020 draft but did not make the team. Huntley had a productive final season for New Mexico State in 2019 with over 1,000 rushing and 1,000 receiving yards. He has limited NFL gametime experience, so he will once again compete for a practice squad spot.
Kennedy Brooks
The Eagles picked up Kennedy Brooks as an undrafted free agent in early May. He was a star running back for the University of Oklahoma. Brooks racked up 1,253 rushing yards on 198 carries (6.3 yards per carry), along with 13 touchdowns on the ground in 2021. He won Alamo MVP with his 142 yard and three touchdown performance in his team’s bowl win over Oregon. Brooks is not as physical or as speedy as comparable running backs, so he is likely going to compete for a practice squad spot.
In Conclusion
The Eagles will go into the 2022 season with the same running backs as last season minus Jordan Howard. Howard spent three years total in Philadelphia and had over 400 rushing yards on the ground last year. A healthy Miles Sanders plus extra snaps from Scott and Gainwell should fill this void.
It will be very interesting to see what the Eagles offense does in 2022. They have a quality running back room despite no big-name players. Expect the Eagles to throw the ball more this season but use the running game to control the clock and when the passing game is not going well.
Are you confident in the Eagles’ running backs going into the 2022 season? Let us know in the comments. Check out our analysis of the quarterbacks, wide receivers, and special teams. Don’t forget to read our latest content and follow our Facebook and Twitter pages for more Eagles coverage!
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