Recap Darren Sproles' impressive 2016 season through some of his most memorable photos.
RB Darren Sproles led the Eagles in all-purpose yards (1,108) and scrimmage yards (865) in 2016.
Sproles was selected to his third consecutive Pro Bowl following the 2016 season.
When the Eagles played the Lions in October, Sproles combined for a team-high 74 all-purpose yards and led the Eagles with 45 yards on five carries.
Sproles finished the season with 438 rushing yards on 94 carries.
At the end of 2016, Sproles had tallied 438 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns, 427 receiving yards, two receiving touchdowns, and 224 punt return yards.
Last December, running back Darren Sproles told ESPN's Tim McManus that he expects 2017 to be his final season in the NFL, which would cap off a 13-year career worthy of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Training Camp is not even here yet, but Sproles might already be keeping his mind open to extending his career.
"We're going to see," Sproles said on Monday. "After we make these playoffs, come back and ask me."
The soon-to-be 34-year-old admits that he's enjoyed himself more during offseason training preparing for a potential swan song. He carried the ball a career-high 94 times in 2016. With the addition of LeGarrette Blount, Sproles understands his role will be different this year.
"We got Blount now. We got (Wendell) Smallwood," Sproles said. "My thing is, whatever my role is, it's probably going to be more out-of-the-backfield-type stuff."
The 5-6. 190-pound Sproles has defied the odds at every stage of his football career. He ranks eighth in NFL history in all-purpose yards. Since 2007, he has the most receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns among all NFL running backs. He has earned three consecutive Pro Bowl selections since arriving in Philadelphia via trade in 2014.
In April's NFL Draft, the Eagles selected a player whom many analysts consider to be the next Darren Sproles in Donnel Pumphrey. Like Sproles, Pumphrey doesn't have the typical size for an NFL back at 5-9, 180 pounds. Sproles has had no problem taking the rookie under his wing.
"The main thing I tell him is really it's the more you can do. You want to show them that you can catch punts, you can catch kickoffs, you can play receiver," Sproles said. "It's the more you can do. You'll be in this league for a long time."
As a junior in 2003, Sproles led the nation and set a Kansas State record with 1,986 yards rushing. Pumphrey just wrapped up a 2,133-yard senior campaign that was part of an NCAA-record 6,405 career rushing yards. The biggest adjustment going from college to the pros, Sproles says, is the lighter workload.
"He's so used to getting the ball ... that's the only thing," Sproles said. "He'll get used to that.
"The thing is, he'll be fresher."
The final week of 2017 OTAs kicked off on Monday, as the Eagles hit the practice fields at the NovaCare Complex.
WR Mack Hollins
RB Darren Sproles
T Lane Johnson
S Rodney McLeod
T Dillon Gordon and G Brandon Brooks
WR Nelson Agholor
WR Nelson Agholor
WR Dorial Green-Beckham
Head coach Doug Pederson
LB Kamu Grugier-Hill
DT Destiny Vaeao
WR Marcus Johnson
DT Tim Jernigan
DE Derek Barnett
TE Anthony Denham
DT Justin Hamilton
DT Gabe Wright
DT Fletcher Cox
T Halapoulivaati Vaitai and G Darrell Greene
TE Anthony Denham
DT Winston Craig
TE Billy Brown
DE Steven Means
RB Wendell Smallwood
CB Rasul Douglas and defensive backs coach Cory Undlin
CBs Rasul Douglas and Dwayne Gratz
Defensive backs coach Cory Undlin
CB Aaron Grymes and S Terrence Brooks
S Terrence Brooks
WR Marcus Johnson
LB Najee Goode
QB Carson Wentz
WR Shelton Gibson
WR Shelton Gibson
G/T Matt Tobin
T Victor Salako
