For Shipley, whose last offensive snap before Sunday’s game against the Ravens had come in a 34-6 win in Dallas nearly a month ago, the readiness and attentiveness for which he’s becoming known paid dividends in Baltimore.
The 22-year-old had his number called on the third play of the game, securing a bubble toss and mustering four yards on what would be his only offensive snap.
Shipley’s most notable imprint on the Eagles’ 24-19 win at M&T Bank Stadium came via special teams, where he logged 22 snaps.
Shipley, a core member of coordinator Michael Clay’s unit, was part of a group that pressured and bottled up Ravens punt returner Tylan Wallace, who managed 16 yards on two returns while fair-catching another two of Braden Mann’s punts.
Two others were downed deep in enemy territory thanks to efforts from Mann – the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week – and from gunners Sydney Brown and Kelee Ringo.
With linebacker Ben VanSumeren placed on injured reserve after suffering a knee injury in last Friday’s practice, Shipley, a standout performer, is growing into a leadership position.
Scarce as they might be for him, Shipley is always ready for offensive opportunities that might come, though he takes everything in stride.
With Saquon Barkley primed to shatter franchise rushing records, and with Kenny Gainwell next in line, Shipley’s primary focus is honing in on details and contributing on special teams.
As part of an Inside The Birds “Rookie Diary” series, I’ll be checking in with Shipley throughout the season, learning more about the first-year running back and chronicling his rookie campaign.
On Friday, we chatted for our 11th installment.
Andrew: So, on the third play of the game against Baltimore, the bubble play, were you prepared for that?
Will: Oh, yeah. I was ready for it. I knew it was gonna be an early call, just based off our game plan. So, I didn’t know when it was gonna come, but you know it’s a read play where you get the option to throw it to me or hand it off depending on the look. I was ready to go, for sure.”
Andrew: You definitely were because that was the third play and you weren’t in again on offense. So, you’re ready at a moment’s notice.
Will: “Oh, yeah. No doubt.”
Andrew: Do you have to condition yourself to be like that? Because you’ve always been the guy…
Will: “Yeah, you know, it’s definitely different, especially just having a special teams mindset going in, knowing my main role is to go out there and perform on special teams. So, just also knowing that whenever my number is called on offense, I got to be as ready to go as if it were my main role. So, it’s definitely tough and something I’m getting used to. But kind of just what I’ve had to face this year, and I love it. At the end of the day, I’m embracing it. And any opportunity I get, I’m gonna be ready for it.”
Andrew: What was the game atmosphere like for that Ravens game? It felt like the intensity was ratcheted up, almost like a playoff game.
Will: “Yeah, it was great. I remember coming over to the sideline and Coach [Jemal] Singleton’s saying, ‘We didn’t think they were just gonna lay down. We knew this was gonna be a dogfight. It’s gonna be four quarters, so let’s get ready to go.’ And that’s the mindset we took with it – and we were the last ones standing.”
Andrew: You’re a Weddington, N.C. native, so the Panthers are a team I assume you grew up watching. What’s your fondest memory growing up in North Carolina?
Will: “Yeah, it’s big-time for me. The Panthers were a big part of my realization of my goals in life. Growing up and watching all those players. I think, probably, the first memory that comes to mind is preseason, Panthers vs. New England Patriots. Jake Delhomme was the quarterback, and my family and I went and still have a picture from it that we always look back at during the holidays – during this time of the year. So, definitely really cool to be playing against your hometown team. It’s special, for sure.”
Andrew: Given the uniqueness of this matchup for you, do you have family in?
Will: “Yeah. My grandmother came up, she’s a huge Panthers fan, so we’ve had her at the apartment for the week. And then my parents will also come up; I think I’ve mentioned that my parents don’t miss a game, so they’ll be here as well. And then I’m sure my parents got some people coming with them – they always do – but I never know until after the game. But, yeah, they’ve always got people tagging along.”
Andrew: I know how much your grandmother means to you, because you always mention her when we discuss food, but being that she’s a Panthers fan, is she rolling with you this week?
Will: “Yeah, I think she definitely is. Over anything else, she’s a Saquon Barkley fan. [Laughs]. That’s the first thing she said when I picked her up from the airport, ‘I can’t wait to see Saquon this week!’ So, she’ll definitely be cheering for the Birds, no doubt about it, even though I’m sure she’ll wanna see the Panthers do well. But Birds on top.”
Andrew: I know you don’t think this way, but if the game goes the way it may, you could get more opportunities. I’ve even said that I think you’re scoring a touchdown this week. All that aside, have you ever given any thought to what your celebration would be or what will be running through your mind when the moment comes?
Will: “Like you said, you treat everybody in the NFL with respect, ’cause every team in this league can beat anybody on any given day. And that’s the way we’re preparing this week. But just like any game, I’m gonna be ready for an opportunity that pops up. I’m preparing as if I’m the starter, so I’m ready for anything offensively, that if an opportunity comes my way, I’m gonna take advantage of it.
“And to be able to score or make a big play against my hometown team, it would be unbelievable for me. So, definitely gonna take advantage of any opportunity. And, you know, I hadn’t thought of a celebration – but now that you mentioned it, and after my last one and getting heckled for that – I think I’ll probably prepare one. [Laughs].
Andrew: You probably should because you never know when it’s going to happen.
Will: [Laughs]
Andrew: Given the small margin for error in that game, special teams were a driving force in helping the Eagles win the game. What are your prominent takeaways from how the unit performed?
Will: “We did a great job flipping the field on punt and punt return. I mean, Braden Mann, I think, got NFC Special Teams Player of the Week, and deservedly so. To pin ’em inside the 5 [yard line] twice is huge. After we got the ball back after that, we got points off of it. It’s so huge to be able to flip the field. That’s the name of the game on special teams. We thought we were gonna get some returns because of how cold it was, but [Justin] Tuck[er] is kicking it 12 yards deep, kinda what we knew he could do. So, didn’t get a huge chance on return, but kickoff coverage kinda had that one slip-up where we let ’em out around the 40.
“Just gotta continue to be precise with that. Like I mentioned, as it gets cold, and we’re expecting to get more returns, we’re also expecting some other teams to get more returns. That’s just how the game goes. So, tightening up the coverage piece and making sure if we get any opportunities on the return piece, we make some stuff happen.”
Andrew: Obviously third phase production is always a priority, but given that you were facing one of the better team’s in the NFL, was the importance amplified?
Will: “Like I said, all our coaches do such a good job of preparing us in what we need for that week. But when you’re going up against a physical team like Baltimore, it’s known there’s different things that you gotta bring to the table. So, as any other week would be different based on the team you’re playing, Baltimore was also that way. I guess amplified is a good word; we knew we were gonna have to bring it to the table ’cause we knew they were as well.”
Andrew: I was talking to Ty [Davis-Price] a few minutes ago. I remember you saying he was one of the funniest teammates you’ve been around. I know the running back room is pretty close, so are you guys doing anything for Christmas in terms of gift-sharing?
Will: “I’m sure we will. I also know that I think the rookie dinner is coming up here soon, so we’ll see how that goes too, but we hadn’t solidified anything. But, yeah, I’m sure we’ll do something, for sure.”
Andrew: Could you expand on the rookie dinner plans?
Will: “Every position group, if you got a rookie in your position group, they’ll take you out to a nice dinner – to the vet’s choosing. So, we’ll see how that goes. I can report back to you after.” [Laughs]
Andrew: Well, you have a long list of places that you could potentially go…
Will: “Long list of places. And just a great group of guys that I’m excited about doing that for. I know it’s got a reputation of hurting the rookie’s bank account a little bit, but money isn’t really anything to me, especially when I’m spending it on the people I love and the people I care about.”
Andrew: “Have you and your fiancee done any Christmas decorating or shopping yet?”
Will: “That’s what we did last night, actually. We went around to a couple different stores; Target, Walmart, Hallmark, and went and got some decorations. We got our first tree – not real. We had to go with one that we had set up…
Andrew: Did you go with the mini or the full size?
Will: “We went with the full size. So, it’s still a nice tree, but not real. So, we’re gonna save that for another year. But it was good. My grandmother was nice enough to get us a little snow-globe, nativity scene. So, that was really cool to have that. We went and got some blankets and just some stuff to spoof up the apartment a little bit and make it feel a little bit more like the holiday season.”
Andrew: What’s one thing you’re working on this week that you hope translates on Sunday?
Will: “I feel really good about the kickoff return and kickoff coverage this week. I think we’ve got the ability to really make a difference in the game, and if we get the opportunity to return one, I think we got a chance to explode and make a big play. And the one’s that we get a chance to cover on, I think we gotta really good chance to pin ’em and give the defense really good field positon. I would say that, and as you mentioned, if I get the opportunity on offense, just make some stuff happen. ‘Cause I know, one, my grandmother’s here; she’s not able to make it to many games ’cause of her age and just traveling and all that stuff. So for her to be here, I just want to do something cool out there that she can remember.”
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