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Who makes the Eagles roster: Running back

The Eagles have to narrow their roster to 53 players by Sept. 3. Here's a look at each position as final cut-down day looms:

Aug 23: Offensive line
Aug. 24: Defensive line
Aug. 25: Linebacker
Aug. 26: Wide receiver/tight end
Aug. 29: Running back
Aug. 30: Defensive back
Aug. 31: Quarterback/specialist

RUNNING BACK

LIKELY TO KEEP: 4

WHO STAYS

Ryan Mathews, Darren Sproles, Kenjon Barner, Wendell Smallwood

The Eagles could keep just three running backs. Andy Reid sometimes kept only three, but he also had a fullback on the roster. Doug Pederson's Eagles are without a fullback – Chris Pantale, Dillon Gordon or Trey Burton will fill that small role – so four should be the number of tailbacks left on the 53-man roster.

Ryan Mathews is the lead running back a year after he toiled behind the carpet-bagging, sliding-to-avoid-a-cornerback DeMarco Murray. Mathews was very good in that spot before injuries – isn't it always injuries with Mathews? – caught up to him. Mathews, when healthy, is a solid starter. He has rushed for more than 1,000 yards twice in his first four seasons and has a career 4.5-yards-per-carry average. But he has missed 23 games to injury. He missed the first week-plus of training camp with an ankle sprain. Odds are he won't play a full 16 games this season, and that's why there are legitimate questions about the Eagles' depth at the position.

Darren Sproles, of course, is a weapon out of the backfield. But he's more of a complementary piece. He could shoulder a 20-carry game here and there, but over an extended period of time, that would be a stretch. The Eagles gave Sproles a little extra money this year in exchange for another year on his contract. He said he hopes to play that deal out. I wouldn't be surprised if this was his last season, however. Pederson has kept the 33-year-old on a short leash during camp and the preseason. Sproles is still primed to be used as a mismatch receiver. Chip Kelly exhausted his one or two misdirection screens on Sproles, and that was about all Kelly had when it came to exploiting linebackers matched up against the diminutive but speedy back. Can Pederson scheme plays to take advantage of Sproles in space?

If Sproles can't jump into the No. 1 role if Mathews is sidelined, then that job right now belongs to Kenjon Barner. The 26-year-old tailback has had a solid preseason (19 carries for 115 yards and a touchdown). Barner can also return kicks, but he'll likely be behind Josh Huff on kickoffs and Sproles on punts. He is a decent rusher, but is overrated because of what he has done in the preseason over the last two years. He's also limited as a receiver – drops are a regular occurrence – and his blocking is suspect. If the Eagles can upgrade off the waiver wire, they should pull the trigger.

Wendell Smallwood was supposed to compete with Barner for that backup spot, but the rookie has been hurt almost all of camp and the preseason. He was out for weeks with a quadriceps injury, and after four snaps in his first preseason game on Saturday, he left with an apparent head injury. The Eagles haven't confirmed that he suffered a concussion. Smallwood is a blank slate. But he's a fifth-round draft pick and the Eagles need developmental running backs. They can't dress everyone, so Smallwood will be inactive and ready to dress in an emergency.

WHO GOES

Byron Marshall's preseason numbers are dismal (24 carries for 64 yards), but he has been stuck running behind an equally dismal offensive line. He played mostly receiver during his last season at Oregon. I'm a bit surprised the Eagles didn't line him up more in the slot. He's not big, though, and is another college spread player who has struggled to adjust to a pro scheme. He could hang around on the practice squad.