Eagles running back Ryan Mathews remains in a holding pattern.
The former first-round pick, who rushed for 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns over his two seasons in Philadelphia, is still dealing with the lengthy rehabilitation that comes with having a herniated disc in one's neck.
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Saturday on Inside Training Camp Live that Mathews is not currently with the club, which was an agreed upon arrangement with the Eagles. Until they have clarity on his situation, it complicates his immediate future with the team.
"It's a neck injury and everyone is very careful that when, if he comes back to football, that he is 100 percent healthy and ready to go," Rapoport said. "With these neck injuries -- we saw with Koa Misi going on injured reserve, we've seen it with Zach Orr, [who] has not yet signed with anyone after announcing he's going to come back -- you have to be very cautious about some of these neck injuries.
"So the Eagles are not making any decisions on anything until Ryan Mathews gets 100 percent healed and healthy, and then maybe they give him an opportunity to make this team. Maybe they try to trade him. Maybe they try to cut him. But there's no answers available until he's actually healthy."
Mathews' cap number is $5 million this season, though the team would save nearly all of that by releasing him. Despite averaging nearly five yards per carry over the last two years, the serious injury suffered by Mathews combined with his previous medical history may make him a roster casualty when all the smoke clears.
The Eagles currently have a crowded backfield with LeGarrette Blount, Darren Sproles, rookie fourth-round pick Donnel Pumphrey and 2016 fifth-round pick Wendell Smallwood all likely to stick if they remain healthy through training camp.
