Mr. Dependable
Gainwell Not Just Afterthought Vs. Steelers
PHILADELPHIA — Nursing a three-point lead and looking to build on the offense’s fast start, the Eagles summoned a seldom-used reserve on a 3rd-and-4 midway through the opening frame.
Accepting the snap from shotgun, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts checked the ball down to running back Kenny Gainwell, who hit Steelers cornerback Donte Jackson with a highlight-reel spin move in the open field and churned 10 yards, furnishing the offense with a fresh set of downs.
With fellow running back Saquon Barkley producing MVP – and potentially historic – totals, Gainwell doesn’t get many opportunities to factor into the offensive equation.
But when his number is called, like that 10-yard gain against the Steelers in a crucial 27-13 win Sunday, the fourth-year pro from Memphis tends to seize his opportunities.
“It’s been tough,” he admitted. “But I’m taking advantage of every opportunity I get. Every time I touch that field, I try to make an impact.”

GETTY IMAGES: Eagles RB Kenneth Gainwell delivers a stiff-arm against the Steelers for extra yardage.
Whether it was the Week 12 game in Los Angeles, when Gainwell found a celebration partner in Barkley after punching it in from 13 yards out to extend the Eagles’ lead to double digits, or merely being a Barkley signal away from filling in, Gainwell has become a dependable glue player.
Gainwell is perhaps the most overlooked offensive player given his consistency, pass protection, between-the-tackles toughness and natural receiving prowess.
The lead backs in front of him have changed over the years, but Gainwell has remained, entrenched in his role and ready to deliver when summoned.
“I believe Kenny is a starting running back in this league,” Barkley had said following the Rams game. “I tell him that all the time. I know his secret; he’s a lot stronger than people think. He squats just like me. He lifts just like me. So, I know his secret. I got the scoop on him.
“But I think he’s a tremendous back. I love being able to have a guy that if I break a long one, I can come out and not have any worry that he can get the job done, and he’s done that multiple times this year.”
Gainwell would answer the bell twice more against the Steelers, reeling in a pair of third-down receptions.
The first occurred on a 3rd-and-3 from the Steelers’ 18-yard line early in the second quarter. Hurts dumped it off to his running back, who galloped for 16 yards, taking it down to the 2-yard line.
The final, which occurred on a 3rd-and-9 in the waning moments of the third, came via 14-yard catch in which he split two defenders and powered his way down to the 1-yard line, setting up a Hurts touchdown plunge.
“I knew what I needed to do, where the down marker was, and how far I needed to go,” Gainwell said. “It’s just an instinct thing.”
Most good teams have a player like Gainwell, who’s detailed, prepared and well-liked by teammates.
The 25-year-old finished with 40 yards on three receptions against the Steelers, and as he’s always done over the years, he made his mark on limited touches,.
Running tough, ball security and pass protection have not only kept Gainwell entrenched as the No. 2 over the years, they could potentially lead to a more fruitful opportunity elsewhere in 2025, when he becomes a free agent.
Just don’t expect him to pull off any Saquon-like superhuman maneuvering to elude tacklers.
“Nah,” he said. “No backwards hurdle. Not from me. I’m not about to risk anything. The spin, man, they said it was cool. I couldn’t really tell because I was trying to spin and get upfield and get the first down.”
– Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com.
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