The Philadelphia Eagles added a new face to their backfield on Monday when they acquired running back Tank Bigsby from the Jacksonville Jaguars, sending 2026 fifth- and sixth-round picks back the other way. While Eagles fans are excited to see what their shiny new toy can do, others are worried about what Bigsby's addition means for fellow RB Will Shipley.
Shipley opened the season as the Eagles' RB2 behind Saquon Barkley, but his outlook took a hit when he left Thursday's win over the Dallas Cowboys with an injury. Fast forward to Tuesday, when Philly fans now have a better idea of his injury situation. Spoiler alert: it isn't great.
According to sources close to NFL reporter Derrick Gunn, Shipley "does have a fractured rib," leaving his immediate future up in the air. Rib-related injuries can depend on whether it was only one or multiple that were fractured, meaning that the Eagles RB could be sidelined indefinitely.
Latest Will Shipley News Shed Light on Eagles' Tank Bigsby Trade
When news first broke about the Bigsby trade, The Athletic's Brooks Kubena hinted that the Eagles wanted to deploy him as a kick returner. Gunn poured water on that fire with his report, though, adding that Philadelphia's acquisition was made to "add depth at the RB position" in addition to what he brings to special teams.
Shipley was explosive in his 2025 debut, averaging 8.7 rushing yards on three carries before going down. Bigsby, meanwhile, tallied only 12 rushing yards on five carries in the Jaguars' 26-10 win over the Carolina Panthers. Even though that's far from an electric performance, playing behind the Eagles' elite offensive line could see Bigsby's efficiency skyrocket.
With Shipley sidelined for the foreseeable future, it'll be up to Bigsby to prove that he can handle RB2 duties in Philly. He showed what he's capable of when he converted 168 carries into 766 rushing yards and seven touchdowns in 16 games (1 start) last season, and Eagles fans certainly wouldn't complain if he had similar success out of Philadelphia's backfield — especially if it means keeping Barkley's legs fresh for the postseason.
Shipley will only have a handful of time to adjust to his new surroundings before helping the Eagles in their Super Bowl 59 rematch against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. Still, a strong debut at Arrowhead Stadium could go a long way to ensure the newest Eagle remains in head coach Nick Sirianni's plans going forward.
In the meantime, Philly fans wish Shipley nothing but a speedy and full recovery.