Draftee Pumphrey ready for some action

PHILADELPHIA » Rookie Donnel Pumphrey already has a healthy respect for the running back position with the Eagles, having studied the film of Duce Staley, LeSean McCoy and Darren Sproles.

Thursday night in Green Bay is Pumphrey’s first attempt to try and work his way into that conversation (8 p.m., NBC 10, WIP 94.1-FM).

“That’s a lot of household names right there,” Pumphrey said. “I’m just excited to be part of it. And maybe, just maybe try to put my name up there with those guys.”

The 5-8, 176-pound Pumphrey has a lot of ground to make up as he’s been hampered by a strained hamstring. The preseason opener will be his first taste of tackling.

“I can’t wait,” Pumphrey said. “That’s the best part. All the hard stuff is really put behind us. Now it’s the fun part just being to crack heads with another team and guys other than your teammates. As far as being my first time in pads at this level, I’m excited. I’m excited just to showcase why I’m here and why the Eagles took a chance on me.”

Veteran LeGarrette Blount is atop the Eagles’ depth chart at running back, with Sproles the third down back.

Wendell Smallwood has had an excellent offseason although he’s nursing a strained hamstring. Byron Marshall, who also gets snaps at receiver, quietly has had a solid training camp.

In other words, fourth-round pick Pumphrey, the all-time leading rusher in NCAA history, has his work cut out.

“I’m really just going out there and make guys miss,” Pumphrey said. “And if I have to run somebody over I’m definitely going to put my head in there.”

Look for Pumphrey to play running back, slot receiver and return punts and kickoffs, the latter chores he wasn’t asked to do at San Diego State.

••• Fifth-round draft pick Shelton Gibson didn’t have much to talk about early in training

camp. The past week the light has come on.

The wide receiver out of West Virginia is playing fast, smart and more than anything, catching the football.

“A lot of people have been coming to me and

telling me I’m here for a reason,” Gibson said. “And I need to understand that. They drafted me for a reason and that’s to come in here and play well.”

Not only is Gibson making his NFL debut; it’s the first time he actually will have been at an NFL game.

Gibson suspects the nervousness will leave after the first touch.