The Philadelphia Eagles got a first look at several offseason additions during their 20-19 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in their preseason opener at M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday night.
Among the new additions was former Seattle Seahawks running back Rashaad Penny, who agreed to a one-year deal with the Eagles during free agency. Saturday's game marked Penny's first time on the field since Week 5 of last season when a broken fibula prematurely ended his 2022 campaign. In his first game back, Penny carried the ball nine times, gaining 34 yards.
After the game, when Penny was questioned about his emotions regarding playing for the first time in nearly a year, the running back expressed his gratitude for being healthy again.
"I was happy for me again. You get to walk off the field healthy and to get to go home knowing that you don't have the MRIs or anything else is a blessing. It was fun to get back out there," Penny said.
The remainder of the preseason holds significant importance for Penny. Following the departure of Pro Bowl running back Miles Sanders, who chose to join the Carolina Panthers this offseason, the Eagles will assess whether Penny has fully recovered from his injury and can contribute to maintaining Philadelphia's elite level of rushing production from last year.
As the Eagles aim to return to the Super Bowl for the second straight season, it becomes vital for Penny and the rest of the running back group to maintain a similar production level following Sanders' departure.
More must-reads: