This is a question running back Miles Sanders has answered all too often this season: "Hey Miles, how are you feeling and do you feel like you're ready to go for Sunday?"
He was asked it again on Friday and his answer came very definitely and without a hint of hesitation.
"Absolutely. I feel good. I feel back to normal, back to myself, and I'm ready to get out there and stack these wins up," Sanders said.
Great news.
Exciting and promising for an offense that has not had Sanders for three games in the first half of 2020. Sanders has just 71 carries this season, and he has made the most of them, averaging 6.1 yards per attempt. And while Boston Scott and Corey Clement and even Jason Huntley have done their share picking up the load, Sanders is in a different class with his blend of power and explosiveness – as well as his versatility catching the football.
The Eagles expected huge things from Sanders in his second season. Injuries have kept his numbers down.
"It's been frustrating, especially coming into the season missing the opener (at Washington)," Sanders said. "Then I got on a good little start, I guess, doing whatever I can to help the team and I ended up getting set back a little bit more. It's definitely frustrating. I'd be lying if it wasn't."
Sanders missed the opener at Washington because of a hamstring injury and then hurt his knee on the 74-yard run against Baltimore when he was tackled, a play on which he fumbled and the ball was recovered in the end zone for a touchdown by wide receiver J.J. Arcega-Whiteside. Then Sanders missed games against New York and Dallas and had the bye week, so he is champing at the bit to get it going on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
"I feel good. I've been doing a great job with my conditioning, rehabbing at the same time. I feel like I haven't missed a step or a beat or anything like that," Sanders said. "Practice has been going well the whole week, just trying to finish up today (Friday) strong and tomorrow strong. We'll see what happens on Sunday."
New York's run defense is stout – the Giants are ranked sixth in the NFL allowing only 94.8 yards per game, including allowing just 36 yards in last Sunday's win at Washington – so Sanders will have a challenge finding holes consistently as the Eagles look to establish the ground attack. His ability to catch the football could become a factor as well – Sanders had 50 receptions in his rookie campaign, including seven for 23 yards against the Giants in two games – and the Eagles certainly want to make sure that No. 26 gets his touches.
Sanders has 535 total yards from scrimmage this season on 83 touches, an average of 6.3 yards per touch. He's a game-breaker, and the Eagles can use him in a lot of ways on Sunday as they work their way back to good health on that side of the football.
"Less penalties and protect the ball more," Sanders said when asked about the offense becoming healthier and taking the next step. "If we can do that, we can be the offense that we know we can."
