The Philadelphia Eagles’ season-opening 24-20 victory over the Dallas Cowboys was a gritty triumph, but it came at a cost. With head coach Nick Sirianni playing his cards close to the chest on injury updates, fans and media were left in the dark during Monday’s videoconference call. No questions were asked about rookie running back Will Shipley or stalwart left guard Landon Dickerson, despite both leaving Thursday’s game with injuries. The silence, however, speaks volumes, and the Eagles’ front office moves suggest growing concern.
Dickerson, a cornerstone of Philly’s offensive line, exited late in the game with a back issue, raising eyebrows about his availability moving forward. Meanwhile, Shipley, the promising rookie, suffered a rib injury in the second half and did not return. With the Eagles’ Week 2 clash against the Kansas City Chiefs looming, the uncertainty surrounding these key players has sparked a frenzy in the City of Brotherly Love.
In a bold move to shore up their running back depth, the Eagles pulled off a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday night, acquiring Tank Bigsby for a fifth- and sixth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, a league source confirmed to Eagles on SI. The deal came on the heels of another running back transaction, with Philadelphia bringing back Montrell Johnson to the practice squad. Two running back additions in a single day? That’s enough to make Eagles fans wonder just how serious Shipley’s injury might be.
Bigsby, a 2023 third-round pick out of Auburn, brings versatility to the table. While he’s not expected to challenge Saquon Barkley or a healthy Shipley for carries, his value extends beyond the backfield. A proven kickoff returner, Bigsby has logged 11 returns for 314 yards in his two-plus seasons, boasting an impressive 28.5 yards per return average, including one in Jacksonville’s season opener against the Carolina Panthers. His five carries for 12 yards in that game show he’s no slouch as a runner, either.
The timing of the trade has fueled speculation that Shipley’s rib injury could sideline him for Week 2—or potentially longer. To make room for Bigsby on the 53-man roster, the Eagles may need to make a tough call, with placing Shipley on injured reserve looming as a possibility. Such a move would be a gut punch for a team banking on the rookie’s explosiveness.
Bigsby’s arrival also addresses a gap left by linebacker Ben VanSumeren, who suffered a serious knee injury on the opening kickoff against Dallas, landing him on IR. Bigsby’s return skills will help stabilize a special teams unit that took another hit with the Eagles’ decision to make pass rusher Azeez Ojulari inactive for the opener. Sirianni shed light on that choice during Monday’s call, pointing to the special teams prowess of Patrick Johnson, who was promoted from the practice squad to the active roster earlier in the day.
“Patrick Johnson has done a really nice job in special teams his entire time here as an Eagle,” Sirianni said, noting Johnson’s role in containing Dallas’ dangerous returner, KaVontae Turpin. “It was going to be important that he had that same game against a really good returner, which I believe he did.”
While Bigsby’s addition strengthens the Eagles’ depth, it could spell trouble for A.J. Dillon, who returned from a year-long absence in Thursday’s game, managing just 10 yards on three carries. With Barkley firmly entrenched as the lead back and Shipley expected to reclaim his role once healthy, Dillon may find himself on the hot seat.
As the Eagles prepare for a tough road test in Kansas City, the uncertainty surrounding Shipley and Dickerson looms large. Sirianni’s tight-lipped approach hasn’t quelled the speculation, and the team’s aggressive moves in the running back market only amplify the concern. For now, Philly fans are left holding their breath, hoping their rookie sensation and offensive line anchor can return to form sooner rather than later. One thing’s for sure: the Eagles aren’t taking any chances, and Bigsby’s arrival signals they’re ready to fight through whatever challenges come next.