Philadelphia Eagles running back Will Shipley entered his rookie season with a clear, if unglamorous, pre-draft profile: a “jack of all trades, master of none” backup with a good feel for zone runs and reliable receiving skills, but lacking elite, game-breaking traits. His first year in the NFL largely validated that assessment, as he settled into a depth role while showing signs of his potential fit in the team’s offense.
Coming out of Clemson, Shipley was viewed as a high-floor, safe selection. His strengths seemed tailor-made for coordinator Kellen Moore’s offense, which heavily features the outside zone runs that Shipley excels at. However, his draft-day evaluation also suggested he was more of a chain-mover than an explosive threat, and that he would likely begin his career behind more established players.
This projection proved accurate. With Saquon Barkley handling a historic workload and Kenny Gainwell reprising his role as the primary backup, Shipley’s opportunities were limited. He finished the season with just 75 offensive snaps, carrying the ball 30 times for 82 yards. As predicted, Gainwell remained the clear RB2, logging 342 snaps. When Shipley was on the field, he looked comfortable executing the plays called, confirming his strong scheme fit.
The biggest surprise of his rookie campaign was his minimal involvement in the passing game. Pegged as a solid receiving back, Shipley was targeted sparingly, ending the year with only four catches. He was on the field for just 34 passing plays all season, indicating the coaching staff trusted Gainwell more in those situations.
Looking ahead, Shipley faces a pivotal offseason in defining his role. With Gainwell no longer on the team, the primary backup duties behind Barkley are expected to be a competition between Shipley and veteran addition AJ Dillon. The two offer contrasting skill sets: Dillon’s powerful, physical style makes him a natural candidate for early-down carries and short-yardage situations, providing a change-of-pace to Barkley.
This leaves the crucial third-down and two-minute drill role open for Shipley. His college tape suggests he is more than capable of handling these responsibilities, but to earn them, he must prove two things: his reliability in pass protection and his ball security, a noted concern from his pre-draft report. If he can master pass blocking, he becomes the logical choice to spell Barkley on passing downs, a vital task to preserve the star running back’s health.
Shipley is unlikely to evolve into a highlight-reel player. Instead, his value lies in being a dependable, steady presence who can keep the offense on schedule. For a team with established superstars like Barkley, Jalen Hurts, and A.J. Brown, a low-risk, reliable backup is a valuable asset. The Eagles’ confidence in him is evident in their roster moves, and now the opportunity is his to secure an important rotational role for the upcoming season.
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