Saquon Barkley returns to Eagles lineup, cites strong hamstring recovery
The running back rushed for 62 yards and a score on just nine snaps in Monday's loss, saying his back issue should not keep him out.
By Luana Foster ·
Saquon Barkley returned to the Philadelphia Eagles' lineup on Monday night, playing nine offensive snaps in a 38-21 defeat by the Dallas Cowboys. The running back said his hamstring felt "great" and does not expect his back injury to keep him out of upcoming games.
Barkley entered the contest with a questionable status after missing the previous two weeks with a hamstring issue. The coaching staff limited his involvement to monitor his health. When his back locked up during the game, his snap count dropped further. He finished with seven carries for 62 yards and one touchdown, along with two receptions for nine yards.
Barkley touched the ball on every one of his nine snaps. This marks the first time in 20 seasons that an NFL starter has played at least nine offensive snaps in a game and received a touch on all of them. He spent time in the medical tent and stretched with trainers on the bench while managing his discomfort.
The injury flared on a 29-yard run in the first quarter. Barkley said the issue got progressively worse from that point. His final snap came in the third quarter. Immediately after scoring on an eight-yard run in the first possession, he moved to the sideline exercise bike to manage his body.
Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said the team prioritized the player's health. "Do they feel ready to go? Do the doctors and trainers feel like he's ready to go? And we felt like that was the case today," Sirianni said. The coach noted that Barkley wanted to play every snap due to his toughness but was slowed to protect him.
Barkley deferred to the training staff for future availability. "It's kind of the school of thought I come from: I truly love this game, and I feel like if you're able to go, sometimes you've got to push your body to the limit," he said. He acknowledged that his body is not responding as desired, making it difficult to lead the team.
The Eagles are dealing with multiple running back injuries. Will Shipley, Tank Bigsby, and Carson Steele are on injured reserve with foot, abdomen, and shoulder problems, respectively. Dameon Pierce exited the fourth quarter with an undisclosed injury. Elijah Mitchell, elevated from the practice squad, handled the remaining running duties.
Source: ESPN
