https://www.nbcsportsphiladelphia.com/nfl/philadelphia-eagles/tank-bigsby-saquon-barkley-giants-jagaurs-trade-running-back/692371/?partner=yahoo
In his first six games with the Eagles, Tank Bigsby had exactly one rushing attempt. So it would have made plenty of sense if his teammates were surprised to see him go over 100 yards on Sunday.
They were not.
“I’m not surprised,” left tackle Jordan Mailata said. “I just waited for him to have a breakout game. Just happened to be today. That boy’s hungry. Talk about hungry dogs. We always talk about hungry dogs run faster. Tank is a hungry dog.”
How does Mailata know that about Bigsby?
“Just by the way he practices,” Mailata answered. “Just by the way he practices. I don’t see him lift. I probably will keep an eye out now. I want to see how he lifts, if he’s a maniac like he is on the field.”
The Eagles on Sunday ran all over the Giants in a 38-20 win at the Linc. They finished with 276 yards on the ground and both Saquon Barkley and Bigsby went over 100 rushing yards. Barkley finished with 14 for 150 and a touchdown, while Bigsby finished with 9 for 104.
They became the first pair of Eagles running backs to each go for over 100 rushing yards in a game sine LeSean McCoy and Bryce Brown in Week 16 of the 2013 season.
Barkley had his first 100-yard game of the season but had to exit in the fourth quarter after tweaking his groin. While Barkley could have returned, the Eagles had a big lead, so he enjoyed watching Bigsby finally get his chance.
“It’s cool to see Tank get out there and make some big plays,” Barkley said. “I’ve never been a part of a game, I don’t think so, of having two 100-yard backs. It was great to see him go out there and make plays, especially to see him finish the game for us.”
The Eagles acquired Bigsby in a trade on Sept. 9 with the Jaguars, giving up a fifth-round and sixth-round picks in 2026. It was a move that was a tad puzzling at the time, especially because Bigsby was tabbed as a kickoff returner and eventually lost that role.
Bigsby didn’t have a single offensive touch in his first five games with the Eagles and had just one carry for 11 yards last week before Sunday’s breakout performance.
What was it like waiting for this chance?
“You just wait until you get an opportunity,” Bigsby said. “When you get your opportunity, you go out and be who you are. Just keep being a great team player. Coach need me on teams, coach need me at running back, coach need me at tight end, I’ll go out there and play tight end. I’ll do whatever it is. Just being the best team player I can be.”
Bigsby, 24, had a big season in Jacksonville just last year. In his second NFL season as a former third-round pick, Bigsby rushed for 766 yards (4.6) and 7 touchdowns for the Jaguars.
He just needed a chance in Philly and he got it on Sunday.
“I think what you see with Tank, obviously, there’s a reason we traded for him,” head coach Nick Sirianni said. “A really explosive runner and you see that. We see that all the time in practice. As he’s caught up to our system and everything that we do and learning it, he’s gotten more opportunities and it’s been fun to see him run with the football.”
The Eagles classify an explosive run as a 10+ yard gain. Over the last two weeks, Bigsby has had 10 rushing attempts and 6 of them have been explosives. He even converted on a 2nd-and-26 with a 29-yard run on Sunday. And while most of his work came in the fourth quarter, he did have an 18-yard gain on his first touch against the Giants on the second drive.
It’s clear Bigsby has passed A.J. Dillon and even Will Shipley on the depth chart and for good reason. While Barkley is obviously still going to be the Eagles’ featured running back, Bigsby is a good candidate to spell him with some fresh legs the rest of the season.
He showed that ability on Sunday.
“Whenever you get an opportunity, whenever your number’s called, you just got to be ready in this league,” he said. “Just trying to be the best back I can be for my guys. Anything it is, just going out there and being the best person you can be.”
https://www.nbcsportsphiladelphia.com/nfl/philadelphia-eagles/tank-bigsby-saquon-barkley-giants-jagaurs-trade-running-back/692371/?partner=yahoo
