Intriguing questions surrounding the Eagles running back committee

Could Kenneth Gainwell earn the starting role in 2022?

During the early stages of training camp, it’s been second-year star Kenneth Gainwell, not Miles Sanders, who’s been taking first-team reps. What should we gather from that, if anything? Could a shift be coming in the Eagles’ depth chart at the running back position?

Nick Sirianni did the best that he could to diffuse any rumors before they began, stating at the aforementioned Saturday morning presser that, in his words, “Miles is our guy.”

According to Sirianni, the Eagles typically juggle Sanders, Gainwell, and Boston Scott in and out of the first team while practicing. Sure, we all know that anything is subject to change in terms of where guys sit on the depth chart, but it seems as though, for now, the plan is for Sanders to stay put at the top spot and remain as the starter.

Theories of Gainwell’s rise aren’t that outlandish. He’s under contract through 2024, making him an undrafted free agent in 2025. Sanders and Scott aren’t signed past this season.

Kenneth is also a better receiver and better at blitz pickups which could mean the Eagles would rather have him on the field during goal-line and third-down situations. In any case, Miles Sanders still seems to be the favorite to start in Week 1 of the regular season.

This will be an important year for Sanders as he’s playing for his future and hopefully a big contract following the end of the season.  Sirianni and the Eagles still have faith in the former Penn State Nittany Lion even though he failed to reach the end zone in 2021 as a rusher or a receiver.