Tank Bigsby needs core muscle surgery and Saquon Barkley is week to week, leaving Will Shipley as the Eagles' only healthy back

The Philadelphia Eagles' backfield took a second hit in 24 hours. Tank Bigsby, who took over lead-back duties after Saquon Barkley went down early in Sunday's 24-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, needs core muscle surgery and is headed to injured reserve, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Monday. The team hopes he is back in six weeks or less. Barkley, meanwhile, is considered week to week with a right hamstring injury, though reports from Rapoport and Mike Garafolo indicate it is not viewed as long-term.

That leaves Will Shipley as the only healthy running back on Philadelphia's active roster heading into a Week 5 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. Head coach Nick Sirianni said he would have more answers on Barkley on Wednesday.

What happened Sunday

Barkley pulled up on the Eagles' second offensive series after a six-yard run, grabbing the back of his right leg. He played only four snaps and finished with two carries for 8 yards. Bigsby took over as the primary ball carrier and finished with 14 carries for 55 yards, with a long of 19. Shipley carried six times for 23 yards and did not catch his only target. Bigsby and Shipley each played 29 snaps, so the work was closer to a split than the carry totals suggest.

Bigsby was hurt in the closing moments when he was tackled by Rams edge rusher Byron Young after a short run. He had been managing an abdominal issue, and Sunday's play aggravated it to the point of needing surgery, which reports say will be performed at the Vincera Institute in Philadelphia. Because he is going on injured reserve, Bigsby must miss at least four games.

The rest of the Eagles injury list

The backfield is not the only problem. Offensive lineman Cam Jurgens self-reported concussion symptoms Monday and entered the league's five-step protocol, per Garafolo. Sirianni also offered Jurgens a public vote of confidence after a rough game against the Rams. Edge rusher Jonathan Greenard is day to day with an ankle injury he suffered Sunday, according to Rapoport.

Losing Jurgens would matter for the running game regardless of who carries the ball. Any back running behind a reshuffled interior line is going to have a harder time against a Jacksonville defense that just held Cincinnati to 17 points.

Who carries the ball in London

If Barkley cannot play, Shipley is the default starter. The Eagles also have three running backs on the practice squad: Dameon Pierce, Carson Steele and Jaydon Blue. Pierce, a former Texans starter who ran for nearly 1,000 yards as a rookie in 2022, is the most experienced of the three and would be the logical elevation or promotion if Philadelphia wants a bigger body to pair with Shipley. Steele has short-yardage experience, and Blue offers speed. The team has not announced a move, and a signing or promotion before the team leaves for London is possible.

Sirianni said the plan is to practice in Philadelphia all week and fly to London on Friday. That schedule gives Barkley a full week of treatment before the team has to decide whether he travels, which is a small piece of good news for his managers.

Fantasy fallout

Saquon Barkley: Week to week is a meaningful downgrade from day to day. Hamstrings are notoriously tricky for running backs, and teams tend to be cautious with them, especially with an overseas trip involved. Even if Barkley is cleared to play, there is a risk of a reduced workload in his first game back. Managers should plan for him to miss Week 5 and treat any positive Wednesday news as a bonus.

Will Shipley: He is the immediate beneficiary. If Barkley sits, Shipley projects as the lead back by default and should see the bulk of the passing-down work. His Week 4 efficiency was modest, and he has not shown he can handle a 20-carry role, so expect Philadelphia to mix in a practice squad back on early downs. That still makes Shipley a viable flex in Week 5 if Barkley is ruled out.

Tank Bigsby: Bigsby had been a popular waiver pickup as Barkley's backup. With surgery and an IR stint, he is a drop candidate in shallow leagues. In deep leagues, managers with an open IR slot can stash him, but a return window around midseason is the best case.

Practice squad backs: Pierce is the name to watch. If he is promoted to the active roster or elevated for London, he could carve out early-down carries. He is only worth a speculative add in deep leagues until the team commits to a role.

Jalen Hurts and the passing game: A weaker run game could tilt Philadelphia toward more passing, but it also invites more pressure against a banged-up line. That is a mixed signal for Hurts, and it is one more reason to watch the Jurgens situation.

What to do in your league

If you roster Barkley, keep him and use an IR or bench spot depending on your league rules, since he is not on injured reserve. Pick up Shipley if he is available, because he is the only active Eagles back with a guaranteed role this week. Bigsby can be dropped in standard formats unless you have an open IR spot. Deep-league managers can take a flier on Pierce, but there is no need to spend significant waiver resources until Philadelphia makes a roster move.

For anyone setting lineups around London, remember the Eagles-Jaguars game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium kicks off at 9:30 a.m. ET on Sunday, so Barkley's status needs to be settled before your normal lineup lock for the afternoon games.

What's next

Sirianni's Wednesday update on Barkley is the first key date, followed by the first official practice report of the week. Watch for a roster move at running back before Friday's flight, and for Jurgens' progress through the concussion protocol. Greenard's ankle is the main defensive question. The model's full card for the London game will be posted at /nfl/predictions.