The Eagles hosted veteran running backs Khalil Herbert and Elijah Mitchell for tryouts at their rookie minicamp last week, per Zach Berman of The Athletic.
Philadelphia currently has five running backs on the roster, headlined by Pro Bowler Saquon Barkley. Former Jaguars third-rounder Tank Bigsby – originally acquired for two Day 3 picks at the beginning of the 2025 season – was an efficient No. 2 with 5.9 yards per carry while also serving as a secondary kick returner. The primary job was held by 2024 fourth-rounder Will Shipley, who has largely been an afterthought on offense but ranked 10th in yards per kickoff return last year.
The Eagles also signed Dameon Pierce and Carson Steele this offseason, but neither is guaranteed a 53-man roster spot. Bigsby is also in the final year of his contract and could be a trade candidate closer to the season.
Philadelphia did not add any rookie running backs during or after the draft, so Mitchell and Herbert are their most immediate options to add more depth. The pair of 2021 sixth-round picks – Mitchell with the 49ers and Herbert with the Bears – both flashed early in their career, but injuries and drops in production put them on the fringes for the last few years.
Mitchell appeared in one game (seven snaps) for the Chiefs last year and did not play in 2024. He has virtually no special teams experience, so a potential roster spot in Philadelphia will be predicated on him flashing the rushing ability that helped him averaged 4.9 yards per carry and 77.6 yards per game during his first two years in San Francisco.
Herbert appeared in seven games for the Jets in 2025 and split his time between Chicago and Cincinnati the year before. He brings some experience as a kick returner – though most of it came in 2021 under the old kickoff rules – and has occupied some kind of special teams role throughout his career.