Will Shipley scores first NFL touchdown before foot injury for Eagles

Will Shipley spent the week saying “opportunity is just a word.” On Sunday in London, his opportunity lasted less than a half. He still found the end zone.

The former Clemson running back scored his first regular-season NFL touchdown before a foot injury stopped his afternoon short in the Philadelphia Eagles’ 19-17 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Shipley started with Saquon Barkley sidelined by a hamstring injury and Tank Bigsby on injured reserve. His first major moment was not the one he wanted. Shipley took a fourth-and-1 handoff during Philadelphia’s opening possession and was stopped inches short of the marker.

He received another chance near the goal line during the second quarter. Shipley initially followed the handoff toward the right before cutting behind blocks from E.J. Jenkins and Willie Lampkin. The change of direction left him untouched on the two-yard touchdown, tying the game at seven.

It was Shipley’s first touchdown in a regular-season NFL game and briefly looked like the start of his long-awaited opportunity in Philadelphia’s offense.

But then disaster struck: he injured his foot later in the quarter, went to the locker room, and was ruled out for the remainder of the game. A brutal beat for an already battered Eagles team injured in almost every position on the field. Shipley finished with five carries for six yards and caught one pass for seven yards.

Dameon Pierce handled most of the backfield work after Shipley’s departure, but Philadelphia finished with only a measely 22 rushing yards. The Eagles took a 17-16 lead with eight seconds remaining before Ameer Abdullah returned the ensuing kickoff 53 yards. Jaguars kicker Cam Little then made a 57-yard field goal as time expired to walk it off for the Jags.

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This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Will Shipley scores first NFL touchdown before foot injury for Eagles