The Philadelphia Eagles are placing No. 2 running back Tank Bigsby on injured reserve, according to a report from NFL insider Ian Rapoport.
Bigsby is set to core muscle surgery with the hope that he’ll be able to return in “six weeks or shorter.” He was previously listed on the injury report with an abdomen injury that apparently worsened during the Eagles’ Week 4 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
Bigsby saw increased playing time on Sunday due to Saquon Barkley suffering a hamstring injury early in the
game. With Barkley in danger of missing more game(s), the Eagles could be without their top two running backs against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 5. That would leave them with just Will Shipley, who’s also appeared on the injury report in recent weeks, as the only player at his position on the active roster.
The Eagles do have three running backs on their practice squad: Dameon Pierce, Carson Steele, and Jaydon Blue. Pierce seems like the most likely candidate to be signed to the Eagles’ roster, if they want to go that route. Pierce looked good in training camp and preseason when he wasn’t dealing with injury issues of his own. Preseason fan favorite Steele could then be temporarily elevated from the practice squad to give the Eagles at least three running backs for game day. Blue only joined the team back in September.
Losing Bigsby, especially while Barkley might also be out, isn’t ideal. And neither is the Eagles’ bleak offensive outlook at this point in time.
