Adam Schefter reported on Friday afternoon that the Philadelphia Eagles had claimed and been awarded former Lions running back Kerryon Johnson off waivers. The Eagles later confirmed the report.
Over the last few months, that means the Eagles have brought back Jordan Howard, drafted Kenneth Gainwell in the NFL Draft, and claimed Kerryon Johnson to add to a running back room that already includes Miles Sanders and Boston Scott. Though they are buried a bit lower on the depth chart, Elijah Holyfield, Adrian Killins, and Jason Huntley are still on the roster, as well.
What does the Kerryon Johnson signing mean?
The Eagles claiming Kerryon Johnson could mean a lot of things. It could mean nothing. It’s a really low-risk move for the Eagles to make in May, and it makes a ton of sense. New head coach Nick Sirianni has stressed that he likes competition at every position, and they still have plenty of room for competition at the running back position even after adding Gainwell in the draft.
And remember, this is a new coaching staff. They inherited most of the current players on the roster, including a guy like Boston Scott. And this coaching staff obviously felt that they needed to add a pass-catching running back like Gainwell in the draft even with Scott on the roster. Scott is a fan favorite because he has stepped up and made some big plays when Sanders has been injured, but the reality is that he shouldn’t be a No. 2 running back on an NFL team.
Johnson is listed at 5’11”, 211, which puts him right around the same size as Miles Sanders. So, he won’t step in and immediately be the thunder the Sanders’s lightning, but he has shown some physicality in the past. He’s also still just 23 years old and was considered by many to be a potential long-term starter for the Lions prior to the 2020 season. If you watch these highlights, he actually looks a little bit like Sanders in open space.
It’s May, and the roster is going to change a ton over the next few months. But this move is another sign that no position on the team is set. Even after drawing rave reviews for adding Gainwell on Day 3 of the draft, the Eagles added a young running back with a ton of upside off waivers.
If Johnson can get off to a good start with this new coaching staff, don’t be surprised if he pushes for the No. 2 running back spot behind Sanders.
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Mike Maher is the editor and publisher of The Birds Blitz and Juiced Ball Era. Follow him on Twitter @mikeMaher and @TheBirdsBlitz and check out his archive for all of his latest stories about the Eagles and the NFL.
