As usual, the Philadelphia Eagles didn’t play many of their projected starters during Thursday night’s preseason opener against the Bengals. Several young players boosted their training camp stock, however, further illustrating some tough decisions looming for Nick Sirianni and company on roster cut-down day.
While quarterback Tanner McKee kind of stole the headlines — Philly’s QB2 would be starting for at least five NFL teams right now — the position group that spiked the most hadn’t been generating much fodder early in training camp.
General manager Howie Roseman didn’t add a ton of competition at running back this offseason, but it sure didn’t look that way on Thursday night. With Saquon Barkley on the sidelines with Philly’s other offensive stars, the Eagles’ vaunted running game still put on a show, from 2024 draft pick Will Shipley to undrafted rookie ShunDerrick Powell.
Projecting Philadelphia’s running back group just got a lot tougher
The Eagles entered their preseason opener with a few roster locks at running back. Barkley and Shipley are obviously making the squad, and most beat writers expect Ben VanSumeren to make the roster as a converted fullback. That BVS didn’t play an offensive snap Thursday, per PFF’s tracking, shows the team’s comfort with him in that role.
Beyond those three, the name to watch for the 53-man roster is former Green Bay Packer A.J. Dillon. He’s been well involved in training camp and operated behind Shipley against the Bengals, looking like a player who has put last year’s injury-plagued season behind him. Dillon appears to have a firm grip on the RB3 job.
Then, there’s Powell, a player the team likes who, per Eagles reporter Anthony DiBona, is cut from the same mold as Darren Sproles. Powell has struck up a friendship with Barkley, leaning on him as a mentor, according to DiBona.
Barkley was doing a sideline interview during the game on Thursday when Powell slipped around the edge for a chunk play. He later scored a touchdown and had Barkley in his ear about retrieving the football to commemorate his first rushing touchdown.
Saquon was loving the run by ShunDerrick Powell 🗣️
Stream CINvsPHI on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/W18AERZrxU
— NFL (@NFL) August 8, 2025
It feels safe to say that Powell has the right people in his corner as he continues to chase his dream of going from small-town Arkansas to the NFL.
One preseason game could change Eagles’ entire plan at running back
As The Philly Special Show covered in a recent feature, the Eagles showed a ton of interest in Powell during the pre-draft process this year. Still, it would be a heck of a story for a 5-foot-8, undrafted RB out of Central Arkansas to make the 53-man roster outright as a rookie.
Powell told DiBona that multiple teams were in contact with him during Day 3 of April’s draft, but the Eagles were the first team to extend an offer. Most likely, Philadelphia’s plan for 2025 was to develop Powell on the practice squad, but he looked the part of an NFL back on Thursday. He wasn’t targeted in the passing game, but he averaged 5.3 yards on six carries with a long of 19 — the one that drew a reaction from Barkley on the sideline.
Read more: Eagles cut former first-round pick in 53-man roster prediction
An opposing team would have to be in love with Powell to sign him off Philly’s practice squad, as that opportunity would come with an active roster spot. He’s probably still on the outside looking in for the Eagles’ 53 entering Week 2 of the preseason. But his stock is definitely on the rise, and the Eagles may act accordingly to keep a player they really like under team control.