2019 NFL Free Agency: Does Darren Sproles want to return to the Eagles?
Darren Sproles is still sitting in the NFL Free Agency pool. As he hasn’t retired just yet, will the Philadelphia Eagles consider bringing him back?
Around this time last year, NFL veteran running back Darren Sproles was rehabbing a torn ACL. As the ‘mighty mouse’ was considering retirement after the 2017 season, he knew he didn’t want to go out with an injury. Therefore, he made it clear that he was going to play in 2018. Fortunately for Sproles, he was able to return to the Philadelphia Eagles. But once again, injuries affected his season as he dealt with a nagging hamstring issue for a majority of the year.
The multi-talented veteran would only manage to play in six games for the Eagles last season. He carried the ball 29 times for 120 yards and a touchdown and caught 15 passes for 160 yards and two scores. Overall, his season was a disappointment no thanks to the injuries. But when Sproles was available, it was clear he was still somewhat of a threat out of the Eagles’ backfield.
The itch to play football was still there for Sproles, who thought for sure he would retire after the 2018 effort. Once again, though, the aging veteran doesn’t want to show any signs of quitting for sure. Sproles teased a potential return to the league close to the end of last season, and it sure sounds like he was serious. According to NFL Insider Adam Schefter, it seems like Sproles is considering another season in 2019. If that’s the case, where will he play?
How likely is a Sproles return to Philly?
Word around the Free Agency market is that Sproles doesn’t have too much interest right now. “I think he’d like to go back and play for one of the teams he’s played for in the past, whether that’s the Eagles, the New Orleans Saints, or the Los Angeles Chargers,” Schefter mentioned on the morning show over at 97.5 The Fanatic. Right now, it doesn’t sound like either of the three teams he’s most interested in playing for have reached out, but if they do, he will most likely say yes.
The question is now — will the Eagles consider bringing Darren Sproles back? The situation is tricky. In Doug Pederson’s eyes, he wouldn’t mind bringing Sproles back to the crowded backfield. However, the decision isn’t up to Pederson. It’s up to Howie Roseman and the rest of the front office. Does bringing a 35-year-old injury-prone running back sound like a good idea? Not exactly. But we all know that age doesn’t mean much for the Eagles in terms of free agency.
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In this situation, it seems unlikely mostly because the front office drafted a brand new running back this season, in addition to trading for one as well. Why would Howie and company confuse the new dynamic they’ve created by adding Sproles back into the mix?
While Sproles does bring an essential veteran presence back to the locker room, his usage could take away from their highly-drafted prospect in Miles Sanders, along with their trade acquisition in Jordan Howard. Plus, signing Sproles with his injury risk could be bad for business if he plays less than half the season again. It’s unfortunate Sproles went out like this once again, but it seems as though his time in Philly could likely be over.