The Philadelphia Eagles are adding an experienced running back to their active roster after injuries depleted the top of their depth chart.
Philadelphia is promoting Dameon Pierce from the practice squad to the 53-man roster, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. The move comes as Saquon Barkley deals with a hamstring injury and Tank Bigsby is placed on injured reserve following core muscle surgery. Pierce, 26, joined Philadelphia during the offseason and competed for a roster spot throughout training camp. He was released during the final roster reduction before returning to the practice squad.
The 5-foot-10, 218-pound back has appeared in 43 regular-season games with 20 starts, recording 419 carries for 1,684 yards and eight rushing touchdowns. He also
has 45 receptions for 268 yards and one touchdown.
The Eagles are elevating RB Dameon Pierce to the 53-man roster, per source.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) October 7, 2026
RB help needed due to injuries to Saquon Barkley and Tank Bigsby.
Houston selected Pierce out of Florida in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL draft. He immediately became the Texans’ primary runner, starting all 13 of his appearances as a rookie and producing 939 yards and four touchdowns on 220 carries. Pierce added 30 receptions for 165 yards and another score, finishing his first season with 1,104 yards from scrimmage.
His role diminished over the next three seasons. Pierce spent most of his first four NFL years with Houston before finishing the 2025 season with Kansas City. He recorded 36 yards and one touchdown on 14 carries across five appearances last season.
Pierce showed some burst during Philadelphia’s preseason finale, rushing four times for 44 yards against Cincinnati. The Eagles nevertheless kept Barkley, Bigsby and Will Shipley on the initial 53-man roster while retaining Pierce as veteran insurance.
That insurance is now needed. Bigsby must miss at least four games on injured reserve, while Barkley’s availability for Sunday’s game against Jacksonville in London remains uncertain. Shipley had been the only healthy running back on Philadelphia’s active roster before the Pierce move.
Pierce gives the Eagles a physical, experienced option who can handle early-down work if Barkley is unavailable. Philadelphia could also temporarily elevate Jaydon Blue or Carson Steele from the practice squad to provide additional depth against the Jaguars.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles promoting RB Dameon Pierce to 53-man roster
