Darren Sproles looking for new role in Eagles' offense

Darren Sproles has spent his 11-year professional career listed as a tailback. He remains one officially. But his unique set of skills, and the production he provided to open the Eagles' campaign last season, had the coaches inserting him at slot receiver in camp this summer.

"It's year two for him [with the Eagles], so I think he feels really comfortable in terms of what our running backs are doing," coach Chip Kelly said. 

"So we are just kind of cross-training him like we do some other guys in terms of how do we get our best players on the field and put them in different situations."

It's something Kelly did last season. Sproles embraced his combination role to open the 2014 season. In a Week 2 Monday night game at the Colts, Sproles scampered over 152 yards on seven receptions. One of his four rushes that night was a touchdown. Two weeks later, he sliced through for an 82 yard punt-return touchdown at the 49ers. 

That versatility is something Eagles coaches have remembered, and with their passion for releasing and trading players this offseason, the fact that Sproles remains in town is proof that they think he can still help them.

But, with his role seemingly cut by two-thirds after the Eagles signed DeMarco Murray and Ryan Mathews to key their backfield behind Sam Bradford, coaches are thinking slot receiver could be the answer to get him on the field more.

"We're just trying to get more stuff for me to do," Sproles said. "We're going to get me out wide and stuff like that."

But the slot remains a more likely destination. With Sproles eligible to catch passes, the Eagles wouldn't have to go without one of their main running backs on the same play, and that variety would keep defenses from committing to heavily to one look or another.

Sproles looking for the play down low in a short yardage situation with a linebacker in pursuit would leave safeties on their own against the legion of Matthews, Ertz, and Agholor. That's the kind of advantage his merely being on the field brings.

"We'll line him up in a lot of different places," offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur said. "We'll find a way to get him on the field. We just think that's a smart thing to do. Whether we're handling the ball or throwing it to him, we'll certainly make sure that happens."

At age 32, Sproles is two years past the traditional sell-by date for orthodox running backs. But he's never been orthodox. Since entering the league in 2005, he's shown little sign of slowing down and says he feels the same he always has.

"My body feels great," he said. "As long as I have my quickness and speed, I'll be fine."