Eagles RB D'Andre Swift Weighs In on '1,000-Yard' Question

Philadelphia Eagles running back D'Andre Swift was asked if the team's crowded backfield could produce a 1,000-yard rusher this season.

Miles Sanders rushed for 1,269 yards in what turned out to be his final season with the Philadelphia Eagles, but the team he spent the first four campaigns of his career with allowing him to depart in free agency for a four-year, $25.4 million deal with the Carolina Panthers. 

While the writing was on the wall late last season that the Eagles planned to increase Kenneth Gainwell's involvement in the offseason, general manager Howie Roseman also signed former Seattle Seahawks running back Rashaad Penny and acquired D'Andre Swift in a trade with the Detroit Lions. Boston Scott is also back for his sixth season with the Eagles. 

With four legitimate options in the backfield, will the Eagles have a 1,000-yard rusher this season?

"There can be," Swift said when asked Wednesday. "There definitely can be, yes." 

Presumably, Swift believes he's a candidate to be that guy, right? 

"Uh, ha, ha, I'm a running back on the team," Swift replied. 

Swift, who rushed for 1,680 yards in three seasons with the Lions, then continued to tout the running back room that the Eagles have. 

"I think the amount of opportunity is endless for every guy in the room," Swift said. "We've got so much talent, not even in the room, on the offensive side of the ball. So it could come from anywhere." 

In terms of talent, Penny is probably the most gifted running back that the Eagles have, but injuries prevented him from ever playing in more than 14 games in his five seasons with the Seahawks. In the last two seasons, Penny played in 15 of a possible 34 regular season games. While his talent intrigues you, there's not evidence that he will be healthy for a long enough period to rush for 1,000 yards. 

Gainwell has averaged 4.4 yards per carry in his two NFL seasons, but the former fifth-round pick has just 121 rushing attempts so far in his career. While Scott has had his big games -- specifically against the New York Giants -- he's never rushed for more than 374 yards in a season. 

And so, if there's going to be a 1,000-yard rusher for the Eagles this season, Swift probably is the best candidate. Given the state of the running back market, the Eagles may very well allow Swift to walk away in free agency if he's that productive in his first season with the team. It's a cold world for running backs right now. 

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