October 09, 2018
Jay Ajayi is done for the year, giving the Eagles a big hole at running back. On the team as of Tuesday are Darren Sproles (who hasn't played since Week 1), Corey Clement (who has missed time as well), Wendell Smallwood and Josh Adams.
"Jay is a big part of what we've done," Eagles offensive coordinator Mike Groh said Tuesday. "It's an injury that will impact us here until we get the guys back out there. Wendell, he's done a really nice job in the playing time he's gotten thus far in the season. Really pleased with his production; he’s done a nice job. Corey is progressing with his injury. We’re happy with the guys we got. We think we still have talented players to be able to be really good at the running back position."
That's the company line — but a roster move is coming. Will they address the running back position? Here are some of the latest rumors:
The Eagles opened up some cap space when they restructured Fletcher Cox' contract, which immediately begged the question: are they making space to acquire Le'Veon Bell from the Steelers?
Eagles restructured contract of Pro-Bowl DT Fletcher Cox on Friday, creating $6.5 million more of cap space this season and $11.7 million more next season, sources tell @mortreport and me. But Eagles have not pursued a trade for Le’Veon Bell and have no plans to, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 8, 2018
No concrete news has broken since the Eagles restructured the Cox deal but the Steelers, to whom Bell says he will report sometime after their Week 7 bye, may have some motivation to move him before the trade deadline passes in Week 8. Their 'fill in' running back James Conner is third in the entire AFC in yards from scrimmage with 581 through five games.
Bell is the prize of the trade deadline push and plays at a position the Eagles desperately need help at — but he's expensive. Almost twice as expensive as, say, LeSean McCoy for example...
McCoy left the Eagles in very interesting circumstances — via a shocking trade from Chip Kelly amid allegations of racism — and not much has changed as far as dramatics go for the Birds' all-time leading rusher.
The #Eagles have reached out to the #Bills about a possible trade for LeSean McCoy, per source. Philly just lost RB Jay Ajayi for the season due to a torn ACL. McCoy spent the first 6 seasons of his career with the Eagles and is the franchise all-time leading rusher.
— Josh Reed (@4JoshReed) October 9, 2018
As an Eagle, Shady ran for over 1,000 yards four times in six seasons while racking up 44 touchdowns. Surprisingly, McCoy still has been productive as he approaches plays in his age-30 season in Buffalo:
| Year | Yards | Avg/TD |
| 2015 | 895 | 4.4 / 3 TD |
| 2016 | 1,267 | 5.4 / 13 TD |
| 2017 | 1,138 | 4.0 / 6 TD |
| 2018 | 170 | 3.8 / 0 TD |
There is a divisive split between those who think it's good idea, and those who do not want to part with a high draft pick (though John Clayton said it would take only a fourth or fifth rounder) for a 30-something running back.
The pool of potential free agent RBs got slightly smaller Tuesday when the Jaguars signed Jamaal Charles with Leonard Fournette still injured.
Others the Eagles could target or at least work out include Mike Gillislee, C.J. Anderson, Orleans Darkwa and Eddie Lacy.
There are also a few lower profile trade candidates out there, like Ameer Abdullah or C. J. Prosise.
.@JohnClaytonNFL mentions Seattle RB C. J. Prosise as someone the #Eagles may be interested in for cheap.
— SPORTSRADIO 94WIP (@SportsRadioWIP) October 9, 2018
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