Philadelphia Eagles 53-man roster prediction ahead of training camp
By Smit Bajaj
Philadelphia Eagles 53-man roster: The running backs (4)
Miles Sanders, Kenneth Gainwell, Kerryon Johnson, Boston Scott
The running back position will be extra crucial with Nick Sirianni as the head coach. As offensive coordinator of the Indianapolis Colts, Siranni liked to rotate his running backs, get them involved in the passing game, and feed them the ball often.
Kenny Gainwell’s blocking ability combined with his outstanding receiving skills will certainly bode well for his chances of being the primary backup behind Miles Sanders. Gainwell has a playstyle that is similar to Boston Scott’s, but he’s younger, a better pass protector, and offers tremendous upside.
For this reason, Scott is actually in danger of losing his roster spot in Philadelphia, let alone having a prominent role with the team. The selection of Gainwell immediately put his job in jeopardy. Scott could very well be phased out of the offense entirely once Gainwell finds his footing as a rookie.
Miles Sanders, Gainwell, and Scott all have relatively small builds, so the Eagles would be wise to carry a bruising running back who can churn out tough yards. Kerryon Johnson, Jordan Howard, and Elijah Holyfield all fit the bill, but Johnson’s prior success gives him the edge here.
Jason Huntley is another player who has a chance to make the roster because of his elite speed and pass-catching ability, but the Eagles opt for Scott over him in this scenario.