The Philadelphia Eagles might have gotten a much-needed win over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, but the game was certainly not short on drama. With headlines surrounding head coach Chip Kelly and his relationship with former player LeSean McCoy, there was also issues in the Eagles run game. With all three backs healthy, DeMarco Murray once again played backseat to Ryan Mathews and Darren Sproles as changes could be coming.
Murray made headlines last week when ESPN's Ed Werder reported the running back went to Eagles' owner Jeff Lurie and complained about his role on the team after Sproles started over him in Week 13. Sunday was no different as Mathews got the start for the first time after missing three games with a concussion. Sproles ended up leading the group with seven rushes for 41 yards and a touchdown. Mathews had 13 carries for 38 yards while Murray had 11 carries for 34 yards. Kelly stayed true to his word about rotating running backs, but the lack of carries is not making Murray happy.
"We just knew we had four healthy backs and we were going to try to use them," Kelly said, via ESPN.com. "We knew we didn't have to run anybody into the ground today because we have depth at that position."
According to ESPN's Adam Caplan, Murray and Kelly have met to discuss his workload with the team. It is clear either Kelly does not believe Murray is the better back or the veteran could be given the same fate as McCoy and DeSean Jackson and simply get released for not buying into the system. The fall from grace has been steep for Murray as questions regarding his future now come up.
FOX Sports' Jay Glazer is reporting that Murray is distancing himself from the Eagles and might want to leave at the end of the year. However, do not expect that to happen. NJ.com reports there is no chance the Eagles move on from Murray after one season of play. Yes, the team could have plenty of trade interest in the running back, but getting rid of Murray is admitting a big error in the system which is something Kelly needs to avoid.
"What people don't know is that on the sideline of last week's game against New England ... (the Eagles) viewed DeMarco Murray as pouting and detaching himself from the rest of the team," Glazer reported, via FOX Sports. "The Eagles view him and his style as just not as good a fit as the other running backs that they have and that's why his playing time will continue to decrease."
For now it is anyone's guess who gets the start in Week 15 for the Eagles. The team got good production out of Nelson Agholor and Zach Ertz with Sam Bradford. Now they just need a star to emerge on the ground and it is unclear if that will be Murray or not.
