Next season will reportedly be Darren Sproles' last.
"I feel like [after 2017] it will be time," the Eagles' running back told ESPN.com's Tim McManus this week.
Sproles, 33, is the third-oldest running back in the NFL, younger than only Frank Gore and DeAngelo Williams.
But the news still may come as a bit of a surprise considering how effective Sproles remains. He's rushed for 406 yards this season (second-most of his career) and averaged 4.8 yards per carry. After averaging 62 catches for 539 yards the last seven seasons, he has 49-for-423 this year.
And he's still one of the most dangerous punt returners in the NFL. Sproles hasn't returned one for a touchdown this season like he did four times for the Eagles from 2014-15, but he does have a 66-yarder.
Sproles is under contract with the Eagles for $4 million next season. Cutting him because of that price tag could be a possibility, but it seems unlikely given the Eagles' youth at the position and the assumption that they let Ryan Mathews walk.
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Sproles still does enough things well to be a part of this team next year.
"[My family] wanted me to [retire] this year," Sproles said. "I was like, 'Nah, I can't. I can't.' The thing is, when you're chasing that ring ... you really want to get that ring."
With a rookie QB, an inexperienced head coach and a lack of offensive weapons, the 6-9 Eagles seem far away from a ring. But unless it was lip service, Sproles seems optimistic.
"We've got a good chance," he said. "We get some pieces in here, we can make a good push for it."
Jason Peters echoed similar sentiments a few weeks ago when talking about wanting to return next season to protect Carson Wentz's blindside (see story). After punter Donnie Jones, Peters and Sproles are the Eagles' oldest players and it appears both will be back in 2017.
"That's not up to me. That's up to the people upstairs. I've got nothing to do with that," Sproles said of playing his final season with the Eagles. "But that's the plan."
