Eagles Place Tank Bigsby on IR After Core Muscle Surgery

Key points

• Tank Bigsby is set to undergo core muscle surgery and will miss around six weeks, per NFL Media's Ian Rapoport.
• The Eagles are placing Bigsby on injured reserve, leaving Will Shipley as the only running back on the active roster.
• Saquon Barkley's status for the Week 5 game against the Jaguars in London is to be determined after he suffered a hamstring injury in the Week 4 loss to the Rams.
• The Eagles have Dameon Pierce, Carson Steele, and Jaydon Blue on their practice squad, with Pierce seen as the most likely candidate for elevation.
• Bigsby had 28 carries for 91 yards and a touchdown this season before the injury.

Background

The Eagles have faced ongoing backfield challenges this season, including Saquon Barkley's stinger injury in Week 2 and his recent hamstring issue. The team is 2-2 after a defensive collapse against the Rams, and the loss of Bigsby compounds concerns about offensive depth. Earlier this season, the Giants also dealt with a core muscle injury to Rafael Devers, highlighting the severity of such injuries in professional sports.

How outlets are covering it

NBC Sports and Bleeding Green Nation both confirm Bigsby's surgery and IR placement, citing Ian Rapoport. Bleeding Green Nation emphasizes the Eagles' depleted backfield and the potential elevation of practice squad players like Dameon Pierce. ESPN's source was inaccessible due to a 403 error, so no additional perspective could be extracted from that outlet. Both available sources agree on the timeline and impact of Bigsby's injury but differ in emphasis: NBC Sports focuses on the immediate roster implications, while Bleeding Green Nation highlights the broader offensive struggles and potential solutions from the practice squad.

Why it matters

The loss of Tank Bigsby and the uncertainty surrounding Saquon Barkley's status significantly weaken the Eagles' running game, forcing them to rely on Will Shipley or elevate practice squad players. This could impact their offensive performance in the critical Week 5 game against the Jaguars in London, potentially affecting their playoff chances and overall season trajectory.

What to watch

The Eagles will likely evaluate Saquon Barkley's status by Wednesday and decide whether to elevate a practice squad running back, such as Dameon Pierce, to the active roster. They will prepare for the Week 5 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London with a potentially depleted backfield.