It’s no secret that the Philadelphia Eagles’ 2025 success lies on the shoulders of Saquon Barkley. If the reigning Super Bowl Champions keep their star running back healthy, they’ll be in good shape. Barkley finished 2024 with 2,005 yards, which is the most of his career. Back in 2022, he set his career high with 1,312, and finished 2024 with 269 fewer yards than in 2022-23 combined.
Barkley’s health has been a concern in the past. He missed three games in his second season in 2019 and played only two games in the 2020 season. He returned by playing 13 games in 2021, having only missed a few since then. Dating back to 2022, he’s played 16 games in two of those three seasons.
Who’s Behind Saquon Barkley on the Eagles Depth Chart?
The Eagles didn’t hesitate to give Barkley a two-year contract extension worth $41.2 million. Their offense runs through Barkley, as seen in their Super Bowl-winning 2024 season. That said, it’s hard to imagine the team making him carry the ball 345 times again.
Jalen Hurts with some coaching for second year RB Will Shipley during open practice: “Remember not to kind of do what you did in the offseason. Get your width…Yeah, you were too tight.”
Jordan Mailata to Hurts: “You coaching, I love that.”
— SPORTSRADIO 94WIP (@SportsRadioWIP) August 20, 2025
That’s where Will Shipley comes in. Shipley is currently listed as the team’s RB2. Directly behind Barkley, the 22-year-old can make an impact in 2025. He was kept quiet in his rookie season, totaling 30 attempts for 82 yards. Shipley played in 16 games, as did virtually every Eagles starter.
His pass-catching abilities remain to be seen, though he did catch all four of the targets that came his way. Shipley’s longest catch was 13 yards, four more yards than his longest carry of the season. The Clemson graduate’s most prominent time came in the postseason.
Even though he only had four carries, he turned one of those into a 57-yard touchdown. Shipley’s action came in the Eagles’ 55-23 win over the Washington Commanders. While he may have played in 16 games, he only recorded a carry in five regular-season contests.
WILL SHIPLEY RB2 SEASON
40-yard rush! pic.twitter.com/mT03ho4qYD
— SleeperEagles (@SleeperEagles) August 7, 2025
AJ Dillon is lined up behind Shipley on the depth chart. Dillon has been in the league since 2020, when he played for the Green Bay Packers. At 27 years old, a change of scenery is for the Boston College Graduate.
Dillon missed the entire 2024 season with a neck injury. Green Bay decided not to move forward with “Quadzilla,” so he signed a one-year deal with the Eagles. All signs are pointing towards Dillon having some sort of presence in the backfield, though he just missed an entire season.
22-year-old Montrell Johnson Jr. has seen six carries in preseason action. His 20 yards aren’t much, but they at least have him in the stat sheet. The Florida graduate wants to avoid cut day and earn a spot on the Eagles roster.
