The Philadelphia Eagles came out on top in Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys by the score of 24-20 in a game that was tighter than oddsmakers expected, though there were still some losses.
Backup running back Will Shipley started in a dominant fashion. Unfortunately, he left the contest early with an injury. His injury wasn't the biggest disappointment by any means, yet his early exit did spell doubt on the depth at the running back position, particularly considering A.J. Dillon's underwhelming effort.
Shipley looked like a perfect complement to Saquon Barkley, but now that entire strategy is in question.
Eagles RB Will Shipley's Injury Changes Philly's Backfield Behind Saquon Barkley
There's no way to fully know what head coach Nick Sirianni had planned for Shipley, though it appeared early on that there was a clear focus on getting him the ball. Shipley got two carries on the opening drive and was in the game during a passing play, suggesting that Sirianni has a vision for him moving forward.
If you're trying to keep your team healthy for the postseason, it makes sense to give Barkley some rest. That's what makes Shipley's injury all the more unfortunate. The former Clemson Tigers standout had three carries for 26 yards, while Dillon had just three for 10, including nine yards coming on a single rush. Even just watching the drives themselves, it was fairly obvious that Shipley is a more dynamic runner who elevates the ceiling on any given play.
Barkley finished with 18 carries for 60 yards while Jalen Hurts stole the show, setting the stage for what looks like could be a dominant title defense. However, the running back room is growing thinner by the day. Should Barkley suffer any ailment, Shipley's injury severity becomes all the more important. Dillon didn't appear capable of handling a full load, and he's got quite an injury history himself, so we'll need to see what happens to ensure that Philadelphia remains the class of the conference.
Hurts is still one of the better quarterbacks in the league, while A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith are a great pass-catching duo, but the Eagles' strength is the run game. Shipley appears to be developing into a big part of it, and his absence shakes things up.
Dillon is similar to Hurts in that he's primarily a short-yardage rusher, but he could take a load off the Super Bowl-winning quarterback in a pinch. Either way, Shipley's status is suddenly a hot topic that fans should pay attention to moving forward.