Rashaad Penny: I want to be available for all 17 games

Seattle Seahawks v Detroit Lions
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Running back Rashaad Penny has flashed his talent whenever he’s been on the field.

The problem is, injuries have prevented him from playing much in his first five seasons.

Penny was Seattle’s 27th overall pick in the 2018 draft. He appeared in 14 games as a rookie, recording 419 yards rushing.

But then injuries held him to 10 games in 2019 and three games in 2020.

His most productive season was 2021, as he recorded at least 135 yards rushing in four of Seattle’s last five games. He finished the season averaging a whopping 6.3 yards per carry. But after re-signing with the Seahawks on a one-year deal last March, he broke his fibula in Week Five to prematurely end his 2022 season.

So now Penny has signed a free agent deal with Philadelphia and his biggest goal is to stay healthy.

I feel really great,” Penny said Thursday, via Dave Zangaro of NBCSportsPhiladelphia.com. “I know I just feel like 17 games is really important to me. And I know in my right mind that being here, being an Eagle, great strength and training staff, great coaches, they all take care of players here. I’m excited to be here. I expect big things.”

Penny has never played more than 14 games, which he did in his rookie year. Since then, he’s topped out at 10.

The running back turned 27 in February and has a chance to play behind what should once again be one of the league’s best offensive lines.

“I think this is going to refresh my career, being here, just being an Eagle,” Penny said. “I think this is a great opportunity for me.”

22 responses to “Rashaad Penny: I want to be available for all 17 games

  1. Another low risk/high reward signing by Howie. Outstanding addition at an unbelievable price if he can stay healthy.

  2. I’m going to be surprised if he plays 14+, but I’m expecting him to play when injuries happen in order to be as productive as possible. If he does that, he will probably get another contract, but for 3 years.

  3. As a bell-cow back, Penny’s a very risky signing given his injury history. As part of a RB rotation, less so. He is more of a power back than Gainwell or Scott, and he came cheap on a one year contract. So overall the signing is relatively low risk, relatively high reward. Still the Eagles will probably draft another RB in the late rounds.

  4. Philly is the perfect landing spot for him. The team uses a RB by committee approach and has the best OL in the league.

  5. Yeah, but the Eagles will need you for 20 games. 😉 Hope you can stay healthy this year.

  6. Penny is one of the best RBs in the league when healthy. Flame me all you want but the man is good. Problem is that he stubs his toe and he’s out for 7 weeks.

  7. They also have Trey Sermon hanging around too. Not really utilized much. Might have a shot.

  8. Has anyone done a statistical study as to whether certain players are particularly injury prone for their position? If you throw a coin four times, the odds are one chance in eight (16.7%) all four will come up the same way. It seems likely some players are built less sturdily than others, but “seems” isn’t actual analysis.

  9. Hard to explain, Penny never had an injury problem in college. The talent is there, but you usually don’t get healthier as you age. But, not much $ for a guy that if he can stay on the field is a home run hitter.

  10. He’s an early down back in a heavy rotation with a quarterback that has 6-8 rushes per game. He might get 150 touches. If he can’t stay healthy now he never will.

  11. This guy is absolute talent but it’s been hard to depend on him to be available.

    If eagles can keep him healthy, he can be a top back.

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