PHILADELPHIA -- Running back Ryan Mathews was placed on the reserve/non-football injury list Wednesday, a day before the first full-squad practice of the Philadelphia Eagles training camp.
Mathews injured his ankle last week, according to the Eagles. He did not appear to be limping when he walked into the NovaCare Complex Wednesday afternoon.
Durability has been an issue for Mathews throughout his career. He missed three games last season because of a concussion and groin injury. Over his six-year NFL career, most of it with the San Diego Chargers, Mathews has played in 73 of a possible 96 games.
With the trade of DeMarco Murray earlier this offseason, Mathews moved up to the top of the Eagles' depth chart at running back. Veteran Darren Sproles and Kenjon Barner are the only other backs with NFL experience.
New Eagles head coach Doug Pederson has said he might use a running-back-by-committee approach, an option that might become necessary if Mathews' injury lingers.
The Eagles drafted a running back, West Virginia's Wendell Smallwood, in the fifth round this year. They also signed undrafted free agent Byron Marshall from Oregon. Smallwood and Marshall got a lot of work during the Eagles' organized team activities, minicamp and first three days of training camp.
"I was excited when we drafted (Smallwood)," Pederson said. "I was excited during rookie camp when we had him in here, the entire offseason program, and he came back ready to go in a great frame of mind. He's going to put himself in a position, I'm hoping, to help us this season. I think he's that good."
Earlier Wednesday, the Eagles released linebacker Travis Long, who spent the last two seasons on injured reserve. Long tore his left ACL in 2014 and again in 2015. He tore his right ACL while he was in college.
"Travis had a situation here where (the Eagles wanted to give) him an opportunity now to catch on with another football team," Pederson said. "Obviously, sometimes it comes down to numbers and roster spots, and he's 100-percent healthy, ready to go, and we just felt like now was the time with this decision to allow him to catch on with another football team."
To fill Long's roster spot, the Eagles signed rookie wide receiver David Watford, who played quarterback at Hampton after transferring from the University of Virginia. The 6-foot-2, 212-pound Watford attended the Eagles' rookie minicamp in May on a tryout basis.
