Philadelphia Eagles running back Will Shipley won't wow anyone with game-breaking speed.
Nor will he strike fear into the hearts of opposing coordinators and defenses in the NFL. But his consistency, reliability, and versatility should keep his job with the Eagles secure for the 2026 season. Per Jeff Kerr of Sports Illustrated, the former Clemson star running back is chugging along, also earning praise for his performance in the passing phase of late.
"If Shipley was in danger of (not) making the roster heading into the spring, that may not be the case anymore. Shipley is the clear frontrunner for the RB3 job, as he's ahead of Dameon Pierce and Elijah Mitchell for that spot. Not only has Shipley been impressive in catching the ball this spring, but the Eagles are featuring him in the passing game with the ones and twos. The Eagles also need a kick returner, and Shipley is still the primary option for that as well. Shipley doesn't have a large role on this team because Saquon Barkley and Tank Bigsby are ahead of him -- but he has a role on this team."
Sure hands, reliability, and versatility strengthen Will Shipley's case
Amongst NFL return men with at least 20 kickoff returns this past season, Shipley checked in at eighth overall, with a mark of 26.9 yards per return. His proven ability to excel on special teams under coordinator Michael Clay strengthens his case for job security, as Shipley also plays a key role in other special teams units.
As Kerr pointed out, new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion wasted little time in showing faith in Shipley, mixing him in with the first and second teams via the passing game during OTAs. Fans recall Shipley getting key looks in that phase last year, so his sure hands and route-running acumen can absolutely be utilized in this new-look offense moving forward.
While his contributions in the ground game were limited (14 carries for 49 yards, 3.5 avg), that likely won't change given the lethal combo above him on the depth chart in Barkley and Bibsby. The fact that Mannion, and of course Jalen Hurts, trust him in the passing game, though, provides important votes of confidence in the third-year back.
Early indications out of OTAs point to Shipley staying on board, while if the Eagles do elect to carry four running backs, the door for newcomer Dameon Pierce would remain open. Pierce has arrived in Philadelphia headstrong on resurrecting his once-flourishing career, so it could come down to one or the other, but perhaps both are kept on the final 53-man roster.
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It's the dog days of summer, that time of the year in between OTAs and training camp when countless "what if" scenarios hang in the humid air before officially unfolding in the coming weeks. This is an intriguing roster battle worth following, but as it stands, Shipley's job status is safe in Philadelphia.
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