Philadelphia Eagles Acquire Former Oregon Running Back Kenjon Barner
The Philadelphia Eagles has acquired former Oregon Ducks Running Back Kenjon Barner from the Carolina Panthers in a trade for a seventh round conditional draft pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. For Philadelphia and Chip Kelly this is a move that was strategic entering the final few weeks of the preseason with Wide Receiver/Returner and another former Oregon Duck Josh Huff on the sideline with a shoulder injury and former Washington Running Back Chris Polk in somewhat a no mans land at this point.
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The situation for Barner in Carolina was a similar no mans land with a secured starter in yet another Oregon Alum in Johnathan Stewart. The hope for Barner is that he will fit better with Philly and it should be a better fit with Oregon Ducks East. Oregon’s former coach now has nine former athletes that played at the University of Oregon including Brandon Bair Taylor Hart, Josh Huff, Josh Kaddu, Wade Keliikipi, Jeff Maehl, Casey Matthews, Will Murphy and now Kenjon Barner. No other team in the National Football League has more than four former Oregon players on the roster.
"“Kenjon will hopefully bring some depth to both our running back and return positions. He’s obviously a guy I know really well from Oregon, where he had a very productive career. He has a lot of speed, explosiveness and had a knack for making some really big plays. But our plan with him right now is get him in Philadelphia as soon as we can and plug him in at running back and returner and let him compete.”Statement from Philadelphia Eagles Coach Chip Kelly on Kenjon Barner"
Barner will have to put in some work, more than he has so far in the preseason with his former team in Carolina.Philadelphia already has the first and second string locked up with LeSean McCoy and Darren Sproles so Barner will look to make a roster spot. Currently Chris Polk is nursing a hamstring injury according to Philly.com.
Philadelphia continues the preseason this week with a Thursday night cross state battle hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers at 4:30pm Pacific Time on NFL Network.