Ship Shape

PHILADELPHIA — Slipping behind an overhang defender and streaking down the left sideline, Eagles rookie running back Will Shipley reached for a perfectly placed heave from quarterback Jalen Hurts.

The wheel route was flawlessly executed, capitalizing on an apparent coverage bust while offering another glimpse into how the new-look Eagles offense could look to exploit defenses.

It also showcased Shipley’s receiving acumen and versatility, suggesting the rookie is beginning to hit his stride.

“I expect to make those plays,” Shipley said. “That’s something I think I bring to the table is the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. It’s something we’ve been joking around about.

“They can’t keep guarding us with D-ends out of the backfield, so when they do that, we have to take advantage of it.”

Which they did, as Shipley recalled Hurts placing “a great ball up and you have to go up and make a play,” which was the end result.

“It couldn’t have been a better throw,” he added. “I love opportunities like that and you can’t take them for granted. Have to go make a play and make sure everybody can see you do it as well.”

ITB PHOTO: Eagles rookie RB Will Shipley is showing his acumen as a pass catcher in training camp.

In addition to flashing his receiving chops, Shipley that same practice also stonewalled a blitzing Nakobe Dean and rounded into the form he showcased at Clemson, featuring short-area quickness and explosiveness.

Unlike spring minicamps, when Shipley often fought the ball as a pass-catcher and appeared to be pressing, he’s resembled a much more fluent receiver this summer.

When the ball comes his way, Shipley reels it in with consistency, proceeding to tuck it away and turn upfield to churn out extra yards.

The explosiveness – a predominant attribute – could factor into the Eagles’ offensive plans eventually, with Shipley deployed as a two-way threat.

The Eagles drafted Shipley in the fourth round with those expectations in mind.

Over the past few months, Shipley has studied Jahmyr Gibbs, fixating on the Lions running back’s versatility, elusiveness and receiving prowess, with the intent of defining his game in similar fashion.

Shipley’s shiftiness and burst in confined spaces has served as one of the more notable takeaways through five practices, conjuring an image of how his unique skill-set and versatile positional alignment — for example, Shipley in OTAs at times lined up at “F” in the slot — can eventually add another layer to the Eagles’ offense.

But indoctrinating into a new profession typically involved a veteran teaching the ropes.

In Shipley’s case that veteran would be Saquon Barkley, who sits comfortably atop the Eagles’ running back hierarchy.

The knowledge Barkley has imparted isn’t limited to on the field.  The team’s new superstar shared the wisdom of how to prepare off the field, whether it be watching film or merely taking care of the body for maximum preservation.

The arduous, marathon Clemson football practices, which Shipley said would restart if it lagged, prepared the 21-year-old for his first NFL camp.

Much to Shipley’s delight, the pads coming out Tuesday provided the physicality element he’s sorely missed, noting he hasn’t been hit since December.

So the opportunity to take some licks – as well as deliver a few – made him feel at home.

While it’s unclear just how early Shipley will factor into this year’s plan, especially with dependable, versatile fourth-year pro Kenny Gainwell ahead as the No. 2 behind Barkley.

On the surface, there wouldn’t appear to be many snaps for Shipley to assume anything more than a cameo as a rookie.

But if the 5-foot-11, 200-pound prospect continues to produce in his opportunities the way he has this camp, he’ll be difficult to keep off the field.

“I feel great so far in camp, just very blessed to, first of all, be here in Philadelphia,” he said, “but also getting the opportunities and getting the reps I can.

”I just want to make the most of them. I want to make sure I’m prepared going into practice and be ready for anything that’s shot my way. When opportunities like [Tuesday] come up, it’s just me and Kenny mostly getting the first-team reps and I get some more in there, I want to make sure I take advantage of days like that and move forward and do good with that.”

– Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com.