After five frustrating years with the Green Bay Packers, running back AJ Dillon is set to play a significant role for the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Eagles are putting their trust in the veteran back, but Packers fans already know how it will play out.
At times in his career, Dillon has been viewed as one of the best backup running backs in football. Back in 2020 and 2021, he and Aaron Jones formed a dominant backfield. But it's been years since Dillon has performed at that level.
Former Packers running back set to disappoint new fans with Eagles
Dillon's average yards per carry have decreased every season throughout his NFL career. As a rookie, he averaged over five yards per attempt. In 2023, his last healthy season, that number was down to just 3.4.
He's capable of contributing as a receiver and has proven himself to be a decent pass protector, but Dillon is no longer the reliable backup that he used to be.
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To make matters worse, he's coming off a neck injury that kept him sidelined for the entirety of the 2024 season. He hasn't played in a game in almost 20 months, and the Eagles seem to be trusting him to step in as their second-string running back.
Reuben Frank of NBC Sports Philadelphia said Dillon "looks terrific" in training camp. But it's dangerous to buy into the hype at this point.
The defending Super Bowl champions will learn quickly that Dillon's best years as a runner are already behind him. For a team as dependent on the run as the Eagles are, a mistake like that could be costly.
Philadelphia led the league in total rushing attempts last season by a wide margin. Of course, Saquon Barkley saw the majority of those touches. Backups Kenneth Gainwell and Will Shipley combined for just over 100 total carries. If Barkley can stay healthy throughout the upcoming season, the quality of the Eagles' backup running backs won't make much of an impact on their win total.
But if Barkley goes down, the Eagles could be in for big trouble. As much as they might not want to admit it, that is a very real possibility. Running backs often deteriorate quickly, especially when given the workload Barkley had last season. Just look at Christian McCaffrey, who couldn't stay on the field last year after getting over 300 touches in 2023.
An offense as dependent on the run as Philadelphia's needs a reliable backup in case the starter goes down. As Packers fans know all too well, AJ Dillon is not that player.