Ryan Mathews ready to play his role in loaded Eagles backfield

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In his five years with the San Diego Chargers, Ryan Mathews completed just one full season, appearing in all 16 games in 2013. 

Although Mathews has yet to live up to the hype that surrounded him when he entered the NFL in 2010, Eagles offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, and other coaches alike, have nothing but praise for the 12th overall pick from Fresno State (see more on that here).

“I had a little smile on my face when he came here,” Shurmur said of Mathews’ decision to sign with the Eagles. “I’ve spoken to Norv Turner about him and I know he had a lot of really good things to say, much like Mike McCoy.”

Mathews’ decision to join the Eagles raised some eyebrows this offseason. After trading Pro Bowl running back LeSean McCoy to Buffalo, Chip Kelly went out and signed 2014 rushing champion DeMarco Murray from division rival Dallas. The Eagles also had veteran running back Darren Sproles coming off a productive year of his own in which he was selected to his first-ever Pro Bowl.

While many question how the three can work together, Shurmur said Mathews’ decision to come here reflects the culture that Kelly worked so hard to build.

“I think when guys look at making changes or moving to another team, they look at things that are good about an organization,” Shurmur said. “So I think it says a lot about our organization when we have guys that choose to come here.”

Mathews, it seems, isn’t worried about the crowded backfield situation that currently exists with the Eagles. Though he may have been the No. 1 option in San Diego, Mathews knows that each member of the current trio has their own strengths.

“Everyone has their own techniques and their own abilities,” he said. “I think we’re all working well together, I think we all complement each other well, and we’re just going to keep trying to make each other better and reach for the best.”

Through a week of training camp thus far (see Day 5 observations), Mathews has taken both first- and second-team reps at running back. On Friday, Mathews saw a significant amount of time returning kickoffs on special teams, something he has not done too often in his career.

“I’m just doing whatever I can to help the team win,” Mathews said when discussing his role. “You just gotta fill in, you know, whatever they want me to do.”

The oft-injured Mathews has had a tumultuous career to this point. He has rushed for over 1,000 yards in just two of his five seasons and has missed 20 games throughout his career because of various injuries. Most recently, a knee injury sidelined him for 10 games last season.

Despite his personal struggles, Mathews knows this current Eagles team has a chance to be special with the pieces that have been brought together.

“We have a lot of weapons,” he said. “We all have to do our part to help the team and when everyone buys in, we’ll accomplish what we want to accomplish.”

That goal that Mathews wants to accomplish?

“At the end of the day," he said, "We just want to be in that game at the end of the year."

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