Penny's Weight Key for Roster Spot? 'Best I've Felt'

The Philadelphia Eagles unveiled their unofficial depth chart in advance of Saturday’s preseason opener against the Baltimore Ravens, and the organization’s media relations department played it coy when it came to the crowded competition at running back, listing five of the six options on the bloated 90-man roster as even.

To make matters even murkier, the five listed in a dead heat were in alphabetical order: Kenny Gainwell, Rashaad Penny, Boston Scott, Trey Sermon, and D’Andre Swift.

Those watching practice, however, understand Gainwell has been getting most of the high-leverage reps (think red-zone and backed-up situations) while Swift has been relied on in the passing game. A team source noted that the staff believes Swift has been too prone to kick things outside as a default setting.

Penny, meanwhile, might be the most intriguing option because of what he was able to do during his time in Seattle when healthy.

To date, though, Penny has gotten mostly second-team reps even with a Philadelphia philosophy of rotating liberally.

If a move is going to be made by Penny, it’s probably going to happen over the next week. Along with Saturday’s game against the Ravens, who have a mind-blowing 23-game winning streak in the preseason, the Eagles will welcome the Cleveland Browns to Philadelphia for joint practices on Monday and Tuesday of next week in advance of a Thursday preseason game.

Penny is the ultimate validation for a time-tested NFL thesis: the best ability is availability.

“I’m not trying to prove anybody wrong. I know what I can do,” Penny said after practice on Thursday. “I feel like a lot of people know what I can do as well. It’s just about availability.”

Over his first five seasons with the Seahawks, Penny missed 40 games. Over his final three campaigns in the Pacific Northwest, the 2018 first-round pick played in only 18 of a potential 50 games.

“I don’t go out to get hurt. I don’t think people understand that," he said. "I play a very gruesome sport. I play the running back position. I’m taking three, four hits, with maybe two, three guys on my back. So you don’t know what can come out. ... the guys that stayed healthy, I tip my hat off to them because I feel like it’s all luck.”

The Eagles don’t like the word “luck” but understand there is a randomness to injuries that simply can’t be accounted for. That said, Philadelphia is ahead of the curve in managing what it’s able to control, and that philosophy has become a welcome fit for Penny.

One of the powerful back’s goals had been returning to his college playing weight at San Diego State.

“I dramatically changed my weight and my diet, eating habits,” said Penny. [The Eagles], they stay on you about it. That’s the type of criticism that I needed. They push me to a level that I truly believe I wouldn’t get to [on my own].

“Physically, I feel like this is the best I ever felt.”

There are two finish lines for Penny: the two or three pounds he still needs to shed to get back to his SDSU playing weight and a meaningful role in the Eagles’ running back room.

“My career has been defined by me not being available,” Penny said. “... I’ve had three years where I’ve sat at home and watched my team play when I’m upset, knowing the abilities and knowing the type of player that I am.

“It’s kind of frustrating, but I’ve got a good support system … I’m excited just to go back and play football again.”

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