n his first start with his new team, Eagles running back Ryan Mathews certainly looked the part of a starting running back.
Now it's time to figure out if he will remain in the lead role, or go back to being a part of DeMarco Murray's supporting cast.
"I have no idea," Eagles head coach Chip Kelly said Monday. "That's not a concern for any of us."
Mathews rushed for 108 yards on 25 carries in the team's win Sunday over the New York Jets, taking over Murray's job while the starting running back was on the sideline due to a hamstring injury.
With Mathews as the lead back, the Eagles offense had their best game of the season on the ground, rushing for 123 yards. Between Mathews and backup Darren Sproles, the Eagles ran the ball 36 times.
"We ran the ball a little bit more," Kelly said. "That was what we were trying to do against (the Jets)."
Part of the reason the Eagles were able to run the ball so effectively against the Jets was improved play from their offensive line, a unit that had struggled the first two weeks of the season.
The story went on to say Mathews looks far more decisive with his reads and cuts than Murray has this season. The backup-turned-starter also looked quicker getting to the edge. Which is why based on the stat sheet, and to anyone watching the game, it would be easy to draw the conclusion that Mathews might be a better fit for the Eagles' offense than Murray, the running back they paid $40 million to this offseason. Kelly denied that Murray isn't a good fit but his hamstring issue will be a question heading into Week 4.
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