3 new Philadelphia Eagles records set in Week 18

Kenneth Gainwell tied the Philadelphia Eagles’ all-time rookie rushing touchdown total.

All season long, fans, pundits, and bloggers the world over – okay, maybe just me – have been banging the table to see more of Kenneth Gainwell on the field.

Initially slotted in as the team’s third down/no huddle back thanks to his fantastic pass catching abilities, Gainwell became a bit of an offensive afterthought, ironically enough, when the team’s rushing offense really took off.

Stuck in third or fourth place behind Miles Sanders, Jordan Howard, and Boston Scott – when healthy – Gainwell averaged only 2.4 carries per game from Weeks 9-17 – a number offset by a 13 carry game versus the New York Jets – and actually picked up more yards as a receiver than a rusher despite only being targeted 12 times through the air versus 17 on the ground.

What Gainwell did do, however, was pick up rushing touchdowns roughly once a month, including a fifth versus Dallas in his most prolific game of the season.

That fifth touchdown, scored as part of a 78 yards on 12 carries performance, tied Gainwell with Steve Van Buren and Don Johnson, who debuted in 1944 and 1953 respectively, for the most rushing touchdowns of any rookie in Philadelphia Eagles history.

If Kenneth Gainwell can build on that performance, he might just become a serious player for the Philadelphia Eagles for a very long time. And if not? Well, he’ll always have that record to hang his hat on even if he has to share it.