PHILADELPHIA − Kenny Gainwell is often far removed from the limelight of the Eagles’ franchise record-setting offense.
Gainwell doesn’t mind. The 5-foot-9 running back often sheds the attention the same way he does tacklers. That was the case in the Eagles’ 38-7 win over the Giants in the NFC Divisional Round on Saturday night when Gainwell rushed for a career-high 112 yards on 12 carries. That included a 35-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
It also included Gainwell converting a 3rd-and-12 on another drive when he bowled his way over a few tacklers to get those last few yards.
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It’s not easy for Gainwell, the Eagles’ fifth-round pick in 2021, who doesn’t get a lot of opportunities on a high-powered offense that features main running back Miles Sanders and quarterback Jalen Hurts in the running game, along with Hurts, wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, and tight end Dallas Goedert in the passing game.
In other words, there are a lot of mouths to feed in the Eagles’ offense, and Gainwell is often fighting for leftovers.
“Everybody knows I’m a third-down back, so every opportunity I get to go out there and help the team out, I’m very grateful for,” Gainwell said. “It’s been up and down, but I can’t say enough about how I handle my business.”
Neither can the Eagles.
Gainwell is not the only under the radar Eagle who has made a significant, if not understated, contribution to the run to the NFC Championship game. The Eagles will face the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday at 3 p.m. at Lincoln Financial Field, with a Super Bowl berth on the line.
Kenny Gainwell, running back
Gainwell has 9 rushing touchdowns in just 121 career rushes in his two regular seasons. That’s about half the number of carries that the NFL’s rushing leaders get in a single season. Projected over a full rushing load in a season, Gainwell’s total would project to 18 rushing touchdowns.
Gainwell is also dangerous in the passing game, much like Darren Sproles used to be with the Eagles. Gainwell has 56 receptions for 422 yards in two seasons, and many feel that he is only starting to scratch the surface.
The Eagles will often go to Gainwell inside the red zone because of his ability to either run the ball up the middle, or catch a pass out of the backfield.
“I don’t know if y’all seen my reaction (after the touchdown), but I’m extremely happy for him,” Sanders said. “First 100-yard rushing game in a playoff game is big. I don’t think he knows how big that is, so I’m going to make sure he knows. I’m proud of him. He runs hard, catches the ball well. He’s helping us be better all around, too.”
Marcus Epps, safety
In the Eagles’ talented secondary, Epps often gets overlooked behind corners Darius Slay and James Bradberry and fellow safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson. But it was Epps who led the Eagles by playing 99% of the defensive snaps.
He was also third in tackles with 93, behind only linebackers T.J. Edwards (158) and Kyzir White (144).
“I think we’ve just been getting consistent play out of that entire group,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said about the secondary as a whole. “They’ve all got to play as one, and that’s a really important position to make sure you’re doing this.”
Nobody personifies that as much as Epps. The Eagles signed him in 2019 after the Vikings released him, and he has gradually worked his way into earning a starting job this season. Epps, who always seems to be in the right position, hasn’t let anybody down.
Isaac Seumalo, right guard
Seumalo isn’t completely under the radar as he has been a full-time starter since 2018, and was named a Pro Bowl alternate. But this was Seumalo’s first season at right guard after playing most of his career at left guard, and he made the transition seamlessly.
Fellow offensive linemen have raved about Seumalo’s knowledge of the game and knowing exactly what every offensive lineman’s role is on each play. But Seumalo is quiet and reserved, often letting more gregarious personalities like center Jason Kelce, left tackle Jordan Mailata and right tackle Lane Johnson get the glory.
That should change this offseason as Seumalo is eligible for free agency. It could take $10 million per season or more for Seumalo to return to the Eagles because another team will certainly give him at least that much.
T.J. Edwards, linebacker
Edwards personifies the kind of player the Eagles like to develop. He was undrafted out of Wisconsin in 2019 and worked his way into a full-time starting role midway through last season after starting off and on the year before.
But given a chance to start from the beginning of the season, Edwards has had a career year. His 159 tackles this season rank seventh in the NFL and second in team history. Only Byron Evans, with 175 tackles in 1992, had more. Edwards certainly made himself into a Pro Bowl-caliber linebacker even though he wasn’t selected this season.
Edwards is eligible for free agency this offseason, and it’s possible that he could get a new deal that averages in the $5 million per year range.
Zach Pascal, wide receiver
No, Pascal isn’t going to burn a defense deep like fellow receivers Brown and Smith, although he did catch a 34-yard touchdown pass from Hurts against the Steelers on Oct. 30. And you won’t see him as a big part of the Eagles’ offensive game plan as he had just 15 catches for 150 yards this season.
But Pascal is always there if the Eagles need a block from a receiver. Or if they need a big play on special teams, either opening up a hole for an Eagles returner or tackling the opposing returner.
Pascal was a favorite of Sirianni’s when Sirianni was the Colts’ offensive coordinator from 2018-20. It’s easy to see why it’s the same way here.
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl.
