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A high-octane rushing attack served as the engine to a souped-up Eagles offense last season, with Saquon Barkley running his way into the history books in the wake of a campaign that totaled 2,005 rushing yards. The pieces around Barkley, however, have changed. Gone is dependable veteran Kenny Gainwell, who signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers in free agency. Once again joining Barkley in the running back room is a 2024 fourth-round pick, along with a proven free-agent addition to round out the top three slots. Beyond that, the Eagles have a host of young players vying for an opportunity.

With a host of new faces on the roster and competition in key areas at play, now is the time to begin brushing up on the various position groups.

Our position preview series continues with a comprehensive look at the running back room.

GETTY IMAGES: Can RB Saquon Barkley handle another 375+ touches in 2025?

Saquon Barkley

Barkley etched his names into NFL record books last season, becoming just the ninth player in league history to eclipse the 2,000-yard rushing barrier. A prized free-agent signing last offseason, Barkley had a prominent hand in transforming an Eagles offense that deviated from its philosophical approach, becoming a largely run-centric unit. For perspective, Barkley achieved career highs in carries (345) and rushing yards (2,005). Including the playoffs, Barkley accumulated 482 touches. The offense ran through him.

While it’s probable Barkley will again be called upon to do a great deal of heavy lifting, the 28-year-old should be better equipped to handle another sizeable workload, revealing during the spring that he approached the offseason with a different perspective. Leaning on his vast contingent of resources, Barkley has been calculated when balancing training and recovery, ensuring he’s as fresh as possible when players report to training camp on July 22.

Multiple players this spring expressed the need for the offense to evolve, suggesting there could be more variance under new coordinator Kevin Patullo. If that evolution manifests in the form of a more balanced plan of attack, Barkley figures to be a primary beneficiary, minimizing wear-and-tear and maximizing preservation. Another big season is ahead.

Will Shipley

On the heels of Kenny Gainwell departing via free agency, Shipley should be first in line to reap the benefits. The loss of Gainwell, a trusted option and fundamentally sound player, shouldn’t be taken lightly, but the Eagles drafted Shipley in the fourth-round last April for this very opportunity. The 22-year-old will likely be pushed by veteran A.J. Dillon, but Shipley offers the dynamic qualities that ideally complement Barkley. Shipley’s pass-catching prowess and explosiveness should add a nice flair to a new-look Eagles offense, and if spring practices are any indication of what’s to come, expect Shipley to take his newfound opportunity and run with it.

The Clemson product accounted for just 6% of the offensive snaps as a rookie, carrying 30 times for 82 yards while adding another four receptions as a receiver. When it comes to nailing down the No. 2 role behind Barkley, pass protection is likely to be the determining factor. Look for Shipley to carve out a prominent role in his second season, in what could be a breakout campaign.

A.J. Dillon

Sidelined for the 2024 season while recovering from a neck injury, Dillon inked a one-year deal with the Eagles in March. But while the six-foot, 247-pound bruiser has experience working in his favor, totaling 2,428 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns over his four seasons of work, his job description could look a bit different with the Eagles.

Dillon, who must first prove there’s no lingering effects and can withstand contact in training camp, doesn’t qualify as a typical change-of-pace option, boasting a skill set fairly redundant to Barkley’s power running style. The former Packer should have a complementary role, though I’m not expecting it to come at the expense of Shipley’s opportunities. As camp approaches, I have Dillon slotted behind Barkley and Shipley.

GETTY IMAGES: Eagles FB Ben VanSumeren began his career at linebacker.

Ben VanSumeren

The only fullback listed on the Eagles’ 90-man roster, VanSumeren this offseason made the full-time switch to offense after spending his first two summers playing linebacker. Showcasing otherworldly athleticism and natural pass-catching ability – VanSumeren was part of the running back room at Michigan before transferring to Michigan State – the third-year pro is a unique weapon on an Eagles offense stocked with firepower.

Simply stated, there isn’t a fullback in the NFL who can match VanSumeren’s athletic traits, and the thinking here is that there’s a clear-cut usage plan to exploit his skill set. The 25-year-old suffered a season-ending knee injury during a November practice, but got his feet wet in a limited capacity during spring practices, showcasing explosiveness and fluid movement. He will one worth monitoring throughout the summer.

Keilan Robinson

Claimed off waivers earlier this month via the Jacksonville Jaguars, special teams value should be the focus when assessing Robinson’s roster prospects. Robinson, who played collegiately at Alabama and Texas, was a fifth-round pick of the Jaguars in 2024, appearing in six games. He returned a pair of kickoffs for 34 yards.

The 25-year-old’s calling card is returning kicks, where the free-agent departures of Gainwell and cornerback Isaiah Rodgers have created a vacancy. It’s also my understanding that Robinson has the ability to thrive as a gunner, potentially another need if one or both of Kelee Ringo and Sydney Brown nail down starting jobs. Robinson, who boasts 4.42 speed, will likely need to showcase third phase value to force the Eagles to go heavy at the position.

Montrell Johnson Jr.

Of the young backs competing for depth roles, Johnson Jr. is the one I find most intriguing. A post-draft signing, he carried 100 times for 593 yards and six touchdowns last season for Florida while adding 13 catches for 64 yards as a pass-catcher.

The 5-foot-11, 212-pounder, who clocked a 4.41 40 at the NFL Scouting Combine, is a rugged, between-tackles runner who punishes defenders while demonstrating notable contact balance. We’re not there yet, obviously, but if there were a candidate who could fulfill the presumed Dillon role, Johnson could fit the bill. Like most players in his position, opportunities figure to come at a premium. He’ll have to make them count.

ShunDerrick Powell

Another rookie free agent signing, Powell at 5-foot-7, 183 pounds sports a strikingly different build than most playing his position. The Central Arkansas product, twitched up and electric in space, amassed 1,343 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns last season on 164 carries and caught 36 passes for 318 yards and three touchdowns. Powell also eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing barrier the previous year– on just 136 carries – again highlighting his big-play potential.

I suspect the rookie will flash as a receiver in camp, but Powell will have some work to do to state his case toward remaining with the team in some capacity. It’s also worth noting Powell was among those who repped at kick returner during one of the media-attended OTA practices, so perhaps he’ll get looks there this summer as well.

Lew Nichols

Originally a seventh-round pick (No. 235) of the Green Bay Packers in 2023, Nichols joined the Eagles’ practice squad in October of his rookie season. The compactly built, 5-foot-10, 220-pounder has since bounced on and off the practice squad and returns for his second training camp with the Eagles. Nichols, who performed well last summer, again finds himself in a crowded running back room.

Perhaps his experience, along with his familiarity with running backs coach Jemal Singleton, gives Nichols a boost when camp opens and the competition begins. Like Robinson, Johnson Jr. and Powell, though, Nichols will have to make the most of what’s expected to be minimal practice reps – and dazzle on special teams – to stick around for another season.

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