Miles Sanders Injury and Kenneth Gainwell Injury Report
After Boston Scott’s injury and Jordan Howard’s stinger, the Philadelphia Eagles have been without a running back on offense. In the absence of Sanders, how has Kenneth Gainwell performed? Here are the details. This article isn’t a comprehensive injury report, but you can get an idea of how his absence will impact the Eagles. It is important to note that Sanders’ injury isn’t a serious one.
Miles Sanders’ hamstring injury
The Eagles have not given a specific timetable for Sanders’ return to practice. The running back was not wearing protective equipment on Thursday. However, he did appear to move well during practice. Head coach Nick Sirianni declined to give a more specific timetable for Sanders’ return. However, the Eagles have said they are confident Sanders will be ready for the regular season.
Sanders has been out of practice for the past two weeks with a hamstring injury. His injury is a lingering one, meaning it could keep him out for several weeks. The Eagles have been able to get him back on the field in Week 11, but Sanders is still a question mark for the rest of the season.
Jordan Howard’s stinger
In Week 16 against the New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles running back Jordan Howard suffered a stinger injury. He is questionable for the Week 17 game against the Washington Football Team. While Sanders is ruled out for the game, Howard is able to play in his place. This means a heavy workload for Howard. Last season, Howard missed two weeks with a similar injury. However, this time, he may be back in time for Week 17.
The Eagles didn’t hold a full practice on Wednesday. But based on the injury report, Howard likely would not have participated. However, Sirianni is hopeful that Howard will be ready for Sunday’s game against the Washington Redskins.
Boston Scott’s injury
With Miles Sanders’ injury, Boston Scott could benefit from the opportunity to regain a role on the Eagles’ offense. The former Florida Gators running back averaged 4.4 yards per carry this season, but he was released at the final cuts of the regular season. Since then, he’s been a member of the practice squad for the Philadelphia Eagles. In his brief time with the Dolphins, he averaged 1.7 yards per carry.
While Boston Scott’s injury is not life-threatening, it is a setback for Sanders. The running back position is arguably the most punishing position in football, and Sanders’ injury could leave the Eagles without a reliable backup. Despite being five-foot-11 and 211 pounds, Sanders has yet to play a full season since his rookie year. His injury forced him to watch other backs take over during that time.
Kenneth Gainwell’s performance in place of Sanders
The Philadelphia Eagles could get a lot out of Kenneth Gainwell if they can keep Sanders fresh throughout the season. Although Gainwell didn’t play as much as Sanders last year, he had an impressive season. In 2019, Gainwell rushed for 1,459 yards and 13 touchdowns, and caught 51 passes for 610 yards and three scores. Though he’ll likely be a bench player for the 2020 season, Gainwell’s performance could help the team.
Gainwell is a fifth-round pick with plenty of potential. He can be used across formations and can be a dual-threat option. He played standout at Memphis and has excellent pass catching ability out of the backfield. If Sanders is unable to play in Week 8, Gainwell could be a great fantasy option for the Eagles.
