The Eagles’ running back depth took a massive hit this week, with Tank Bigsby officially placed on injured reserve following core muscle surgery. This news, first reported Monday evening and confirmed on the NFL personnel notice from Tuesday, October 6, means Bigsby will miss at least four games, and potentially longer. Talk about a gut punch when Saquon Barkley is already dealing with a hamstring injury! It means Philly is heading into Week 5 with a seriously depleted backfield.
Bigsby Out, Running Back Room Scrambles
Bigsby’s surgery means he is sidelined for at least four key matchups: Week 5 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Week 6 versus the Carolina Panthers, Week 7 at home against the Dallas Cowboys, and Week 8 on the road against the Washington Commanders. That’s a huge chunk of the schedule to miss, especially with reports suggesting he could be out for “six weeks or shorter.” With Barkley also hurt, the Eagles are now down to just one running back on their active roster: Will Shipley. Seriously, one active RB? That’s wild. They do have Dameon Pierce, Carson Steele, and Jaydon Blue on the practice squad, and you gotta figure Pierce is the first guy getting the call-up. This whole situation, combined with Lane Johnson retiring (which hasn’t even hit the official log yet), leaves the Eagles with two open roster spots. They’re gonna need them.
Practice Squad Shake-Ups and New Center Depth
Beyond the running back crisis, Philly made a few other moves. Linebacker Anfernee Orji, who they only signed to the practice squad on October 1, is already gone. That’s a quick turnaround. Maybe it’s a good sign for Zack Baun’s return from his concussion this weekend? Another linebacker, Chance Campbell, was also released from the practice squad injured list with an injury settlement. The extent of his injury wasn’t clear, but he had been temporarily elevated for Week 3 before this.
The Eagles are also shoring up their offensive line, signing center James Brockermeyer to the practice squad after a free agent visit, according to Matt Zenitz. Brockermeyer is a 24-year-old rookie who previously signed with the Atlanta Falcons after the 2027 NFL Draft. The Falcons cut him, brought him back to their practice squad for a couple weeks, and then cut him again. He’s exclusively played center since college. This move makes sense because starting center Cam Jurgens might miss Week 5 with a concussion, and frankly, he wasn’t exactly lighting it up when he was healthy. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein described Brockermeyer as an “undersized center prospect with NFL bloodlines, admirable grit and above-average intelligence,” adding he has “the technique and core strength to fight.” Sounds like some much-needed depth right now.
With Bigsby out and Jurgens potentially sidelined, the Eagles have some immediate roster decisions to make. Their run game is definitely going to look different come Week 5 against Jacksonville, and the pressure is on Shipley and whoever they elevate from the practice squad. Let’s see how they patch up these holes and keep that offense rolling.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleeding Green Nation.
Leave a Reply