The Philadelphia Eagles push into 2025 with a backfield that’s more like an arsenal. At the core: Saquon Barkley, fresh off a universally acclaimed 2024 campaign as AP’s Offensive Player of the Year—carrying the offensive load and barrelling through defenses with authority. Then there’s A.J. Dillon, the hulking ex‑Packer known for quad-level power and short-yardage violence, who showed up to Philly eager to bring thunder on early downs and compliment Barkley’s finesse. Fans dubbed it the “quad squad,” and yeah, it’s just what the Eagles ordered. “The #Eagles RB room now have the biggest quads in the league with Saquon Barkley and AJ Dillon,” one fan tweeted, while others chimed in with flaring imagery of squats and shockwave
But the plot thickens: Will Shipley, the rising playmaker expected to fill that electric, makeup‑carry-up role, got sidelined by a fractured rib in Week 1. That instant hole spurred Howie Roseman to act fast—enter Tank Bigsby, acquired from Jacksonville just hours later in exchange for 2026 fifth‑ and sixth‑round picks
Bigsby brings fresh legs, return-game mojo, and that need‑to‑prove energy. In Jacksonville, he had a solid 2024—766 rushing yards, seven TDs, and a 32.5‑yard average on kickoff returns —but found opportunity limited with Travis Etienne stealing away the snaps. Still, his return metrics stand out: top‑10 since 2023 in average kick return yards
So what’s happening here—repeat loading time for Philadelphia? Hell yeah. Barkley’s the clear lead; Dillon brings muscle and durability; Bigsby injects dynamism and depth; Shipley adds sharpness if he returns healthy. It’s like stacking Diesel, TNT, and Nitro together.
Here’s how the Eagles can slice it:
- Saquon stays king—smart, explosive, versatile, and built to dominate every down.
- AJ Dillon handles those grind-it-out early downs, doesn’t flinch in blitz pick‑up, and keeps defenses honest.
- Tank Bigsby fills special teams utility and offers real RB2 credentials—expect him to find his rhythm quick.
- Will Shipley is sidelined now, but when he returns, you’ve got a lightning-fast RB who earned respect in the room, praised by Barkley himself as one of the smartest in the room.
This level of depth means defenses can’t key on one guy. It’s unpredictable, strategic, and keeps Barkley fresher. Wise asset management, too—Roseman swapped late picks, not prime capital, for an immediate roster upgradeThat’s aggressive championship building without mortgaging the future.
Fans are loving the power and spectacle of it all:
That’s the vibe—the body’s big, the legs are powerful, and the offense is lethal.
So yes, loading repeat. The Eagles look dialed-in: layered, versatile, unbeatable on the ground, and flashing playoff polish. This isn’t just a backfield. It’s a carefully engineered machine poised to grind, gas, and flash in equal measure while carrying the championship tagline.
Get your popcorn ready—Philly just dialed up the RB room to max capacity, and defense across the league better be watching their backs.
