The Philadelphia Eagles travel to face off against the Kansas City Chiefs in a Super Bowl 59 rematch on Sunday. The game is set to kick off at 4:25 pm ET as the Eagles look to improve to 2-0 on the season in a game that will feature Tank Bigsby's debut.
General manager Howie Roseman decided to trade for the veteran running back/kick returner by giving up 2026 fifth and sixth-round picks to the Jacksonville Jaguars, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. That move was needed as Will Shipley left the Week 1 contest with an oblique injury and has already been ruled out for Week 2, and it appears that he will be sidelined for the foreseeable future.
There's no timeline on when Shipley will return to the field, but since he was the Eagles' RB2 and starting kick returner, those spots are up for grabs, and Bigsby is a player who will get chances at both spots versus the Chiefs.
Tank Bigsby Could Have Big Role in His Eagles Debut
The Eagles made it clear when they acquired Bigsby that they plan on using him on kickoffs. Last season in Jacksonville, he averaged 32.5 yards per return on six attempts, leaving Philly intrigued with what he could do with more opportunities.
Being thrown back there as a kick returner is no small task. They play a huge role in starting field position for the offense, but at the same time, can get the offense pinned back and also give the opposing team a short field if they fumble the rock.
Teams want to be confident in who's back there, and Bigsby will get the chance to prove that to his new team on several occasions against Kansas City. In his first practice in Philadelphia, Bigsby was seen dropping the ball on a kick return, but hopefully that doesn't translate over to gameday.
Saquon Barkley is the main force in the backfield, but the Eagles still would like to have a quality backup who can take carries away from the star tailback to keep him fresh throughout the game.
Bigsby could be that guy as he's coming off a career year in 2024. He posted career-highs in carries (168), rushing yards (766), and touchdowns (7). Now running behind a better offensive line with a better offensive script, Bigsby could be even more effective for the Eagles.
It'll vary on how many carries he'll get in his debut, but he will certainly be back there as the starting kick returner. If he can make some plays in the open field to put his offense in great field position, it won't take long for Bigsby to become an Eagles fan favorite.