On Sunday night against the Dallas Cowboys, Eagles head coach Doug Pederson made a concerted effort to give running back Darren Sproles the ball early and often. However, while Pederson was feeding the hot hand in Sproles, Ryan Mathews did not see the field until the Eagles’ third offensive possession of the game.
Could this be something we see going forward? According to Pederson, he is considering making Sproles the lead back over Mathews.
“I can’t say that 100 percent,” Pederson said via CSNPhilly.com’s Eagles Insider Reuben Frank . “It’s something we’ll evaluate in these next couple of days and make that determination. But until then, it’s still Ryan Mathews and then Darren in those situations. And then we’ve got to get Wendell [Smallwood] and Kenjon [Barner] going a little bit, too.”
Against the Cowboys, Sproles had 86 rushing yards on 15 carries, along with five receptions for 17 receiving yards. On the other hand, Mathews only had 10 rushing yards on four carries and a touchdown.
It is no secret that when Sproles is in the game, he brings a level excitement to the field and gives the Eagles’ offense a jolt.
This season, Sproles has 228 rushing yards, 227 receiving yards, and one total touchdown. The 33-year old is still getting it done, but can the Eagles keep him fresh for the last eight weeks of the season? That is the question that needs to be answered.
But until then as Pederson said it’s still Matthews, with Sproles used in certain situations and Wendell Smallwood and Kenjon Barner mixed in.
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