Eagles offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur revealed on Wednesday that the team plans to divide the backfield touches between free-agent signees DeMarco Murray and Ryan Mathews, the Delaware County Daily Times reports.
"They’re two really fine players," Shurmur said at a coaches availability. "They’re two guys that have been starters in places that they’ve been and they’re going to come here and kind of share the role. I think that’s terrific that that’s their mindset. It shows us that you’ve got really, really fine players that understand it’s important to be a good teammate. Any time you can add good players to a unit you make yourself better because you need more than one to play the year."
Murray signed a five-year, $40-million contract after a breakthrough season with the Cowboys in 2014. Mathews, a former first-round pick, signed a three-year, $11-million deal after being plagued by injuries in 2014.
"As time’s gone on I think at running back, I really believe it takes a village," Shurmur said. "If you play the season you need one, two, three and maybe four guys. They’re a key part of what we do offensively. So to have a group that we feel has improved here in the offseason, now it’s just a matter of getting them all up to speed as quickly as we can so they can master what we’re doing."