After experiencing a playoff game where Wendell Smallwood was the leading rusher with 33 yards on the ground, Howie Roseman knew he had to upgrade the position in 2019 if he wanted another deep playoff run. He did just that with acquiring Jordan Howard and drafting Miles Sanders this offseason.
Now with Howard and Sanders in the mix with Corey Clement, Josh Adams, and Wendell Smallwood in the running backs room, who will be the lead back? According to Duce Staley, nobody will be the lead.
It sounds like the Eagles will want to take a similar approach they've had the past two seasons. In 2017, LeGarrette Blount shared the workload with Corey Clement and Jay Ajayi, and whoever was the hot hand would be the lead ballcarrier in that particular game. That approach led them to achieving the team's first Lombardi Trophy. In 2018, it looked like Jay Ajayi was going to be the lead back, but injuries forced his season to end early, and a rotation of Corey Clement, Wendell Smallwood and Josh Adams shared the carries for the Eagles offense.
For Week 1 against the Washington Redskins, Jordan Howard might get the first shot at having the most snaps, as he is the most experienced player in the Eagles backfield. But if Miles Sanders or Corey Clement perform well with the snaps they are given, then Staley will be quick to give them more snaps and reduce Howard's role until he gets on a hot streak.
