Will Shipley Injury Update
Will Shipley’s rib injury has been the talk of Philadelphia, and honestly, it’s got the whole city holding its breath. After that brutal collision on Thursday Night Football in Sao Paolo (side note: still feels surreal saying “NFL in Brazil”), Shipley didn’t step back onto the field, and the sideline whispers started swirling. Some say he took the hit like a truck; others were just hoping he’d “walk it off” the way he did in college, but let’s call it what it is, ribs are unforgiving, and Shipley was clearly hurting.
@BenCumminsFF noted on Twitter that while Will Shipley is dealing with a rib injury, the fact that he had a designed target early in the game is an encouraging sign for his rest-of-season outlook.
The official word from Nick Sirianni has been, well, pretty much radio silence; no juicy updates, just a classic “he’s being assessed.” Fans stuck by their screens for a sign of life, maybe a cryptic Instagram Story, but nada so far. That’s why Monday night’s trade for Tank Bigsby raised eyebrows all across the city.
@MikeGarafolo shared on Twitter that the Eagles traded for Tank Bigsby partly to add another kick returner, with rookie Will Shipley limited by a rib injury after his lone return against the Cowboys.
Is this some kind of insurance policy, or is Shipley’s injury actually more of a long-term problem than folks are letting on? Insiders, including Eagles beat guru Brooks Kubena, swear that Bigsby’s arrival isn’t about Shipley’s absence, that the front office had its eye on Bigsby for his kickoff return chops, not to patch up an injured roster spot. Still, you bring in two running backs on the same day (say hello again, Montrell Johnson), and Twitter starts throwing out theories like confetti.
AJ Dillon got a few reps against the Cowboys, looking rusty but willing, while Saquon Barkley shouldered the load a sight that would terrify defenses if Shipley were healthy and roaring as his usual self. Rumblings persist: could Shipley end up on IR? No one’s sayin’, and Eagles brass remains tight-lipped.
In the meantime, Bigsby is expected to lighten the loss of Ben VanSumeren on special teams and add a bit of flash to the kick return game (the dude averaged 28.5 yards per return, after all). It’s one of those moments that Eagles fans will remember, a weird mix of excitement over a new face and that sinking feeling when someone you’ve pinned your hopes on disappears into the medical tent. Maybe Shipley surprises us and suits up for Kansas City in Week 2, but for now, Philly waits, hopes, and does what it’s always done: reads the tea leaves and talks football until the next piece of news trickles out.
