Kenjon Barner is the new Darren Sproles

The Philadelphia Eagles have completed two preseason games and return specialist Kenjon Barner has arguably made the largest impact in both games (Sorry Tebow). Sure, it’s preseason and Barner has made an impact against second and third stringers. And while special teams are meaningful for fringe players, rarely do performances in preseason garner such attention. But the elusiveness, explosiveness, and productivity displayed by Kenjon Barner this preseason is exactly what the Eagles expect out of Darren Sproles.

"“Being able to make an impact on special teams, kick return, kickoff, punt return, catching the ball out of the backfield – whatever it is, you have to find a place to fit in,” Barner said. “Our backfield is stacked, but that’s nothing new to me. I’ve been in a stacked backfield since college. It’s all about finding a place to fit in and opening eyes.”"

Barner clearly understands the odds he’s up against. As a result, he also is doing everything he can in the preseason to stand out wherever he’s needed. The two touchdown returns on special teams have been dissected. But his ability out of the backfield could hint towards a larger role in the regular season. He’s totaled 44 yards on 10 carries thus far and added a rushing touchdown against Indianapolis.

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The logjam at running back for the Philadelphia Eagles consists of two injury-prone free agent acquisitions and Darren Sproles. Sproles, who turned 32 in June, is under contract through next season. But how secure is his future with the Eagles? While it’s highly unlikely he’d be a victim of cuts this year, it’s certainly conceivable that this could be his final year with the Eagles. After all, most running backs don’t enjoy longevity past the age of 30 years old.

Last season, Sproles rushed for 106 yards on 18 carries against NFC East opponents. His 62 targets in the passing game ranked 5th on the team. And as a returner, Sproles averaged 13.0 yards per punt return on a league leading 39 returns. Needless to say, Sproles’ versatility led to great things for the Eagles last season.

"“The one thing with Kenjon is he’s a lot like Darren [Sproles] in that he’s always hitting it and going downhill,” Kelly said. “We’re always going to get positive yardage out of him whether it be a five-yard gain, ten-yard gain, or he can break one for a touchdown. He’s not a dance guy back there that’s going to try to figure out how to hit a home run but then end up losing yards. He’s always advancing the football and that’s what we want our returners to do.”"

Kenjon Barner has done his best to shadow Darren Sproles. He’s learned the nuances of the game behind many good running backs in the NFL. But for the 26 year old running back, it’s finally becoming apparent that he’s ready to step from out of the shadows and make his own name for himself. Head coach Chip Kelly has already been witness to what Barner could do at Oregon. His play on the field thus far in the preseason is hinting towards productivity in the regular season.

In my honest opinion, I think Barner is a better fit long term than Darren Sproles. I even believe the case could be made that Barner could serve as the third running back on the depth chart this season. This is not an indictment against Sproles however. It’s merely recognizing that Kenjon Barner is finally ready to produce when the games count and at a fraction of the cost and age of the veteran Sproles. Time will ultimately tell, but if Barner returns another punt for a touchdown Saturday night against the Green Bay Packers, prepare yourselves for a possible shakeup on the Philadelphia Eagles depth chart.

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