Philadelphia Eagles back Darren Sproles one of the most versatile players the league has ever seen
The Philadelphia Eagles will be without their all-purpose man Darren Sproles, who was serving as their feature back this season. Sproles stands near the top of league history in terms of all-purpose yards.
When the Philadelphia Eagles acquired Darren Sproles from the New Orleans Saints, it was during an exciting time for the franchise. Chip Kelly was the dazzling new head coach, the team had an offensive weapons overload. A few years later, many facets of the team changed, but Sproles remained a productive constant.
It was the same news this season, as the stout running back shined through the backfield committee in the first two games this year. 134 yards from scrimmage in two games doesn’t seem like much, but they were some of the most important yards in late-game drives.
It seemed like at times the veteran back was the only one capable of opening up the run game. When Sproles took a hand off against the New York Giants, he got hit hard on the thigh, crunching his arm between the defender’s helmet and his leg. Sproles walked off the field, looking back at an abrupt ending to his season.
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The warrior that Sproles is, he walked under his own power off the field, despite suffering a torn ACL and a broken arm. Many have spoken like this might be the last time he dons an Eagles uniform.
That may be because he’d start next season at 35-years old. And because an ACL injury is tough as it is, and recovery time for an older player is typically more difficult to obtain at its earliest possible time. Sproles’ mentality makes it hard to believe this will be it, but if it is, it would be the end of a historic career.
In his 49 games as an Eagle, Sproles is fourth in all-purpose yards for players who recorded 50 or less games in Philadelphia. In his career, he is eighth all-time in all-purpose yards. There are only two players listed above him that are not in the Hall of Fame. One being future Hall of Famer Steve Smith. The other being former Philadelphia Eagles kick returner Brian Mitchell.
Does that bode well for Sproles’ Hall of Fame bid? Maybe so. But even if beyond that, Sproles has proven to be one of the most versatile players the league has ever seen. And he has done it for a long time, at an old age.
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Darren Sproles is a warrior, and he is on the tail-end of his career. If he walks away from football because of this injury, he will still walk away as one of the best to ever do it, in multitudes of ways.