Barkley Returns to Eagles Lineup, Cites Strong Hamstring Recovery
The running back played nine snaps in a 38-21 loss to the Cowboys, recording a touchdown despite managing back tightness.
By Naomi Tesfaye ·
Saquon Barkley returned to the field for the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night, stating that his hamstring felt "great" during a 38-21 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. The running back did not expect a new back issue to sideline him, even as he managed pain during the contest.
Barkley had missed the previous two weeks due to a hamstring injury. He entered the game against the Cowboys listed as questionable. The Eagles limited his usage initially, but his carry count dropped further when his back locked up as the game progressed.
He played nine snaps in total, touching the ball on every single one of them. Barkley finished with seven carries for 62 yards and a touchdown, along with two receptions for 9 yards. He became the first NFL starter in the past 20 seasons to play at least nine offensive snaps in a game and get a touch on all of them.
Coach Nick Sirianni said the staff monitored Barkley closely because of his health. "We felt like that was the case today," Sirianni said. "But obviously wanted to keep a close eye on him." The coach noted that Barkley is "tough as heck" and wanted to be out there for his teammates.
Barkley spent time in the medical tent and stretched on the bench with trainers. He tweaked his back on a 29-yard run in the first quarter. The pain got progressively worse from there. His last snap of the game came in the third quarter.
The Eagles have suffered major injuries at the running back position. Will Shipley is on injured reserve with a foot injury. Tank Bigsby is on injured reserve with an abdomen injury. Carson Steele is on injured reserve with a shoulder injury. Dameon Pierce exited the fourth quarter with an undisclosed injury. Elijah Mitchell, brought up from the practice squad, handled the remaining running duties.
Barkley said he truly loves the game and believes in pushing the body to its limit when able. "It's just not responding the way I want it to respond right now," he said. He deferred to the training staff regarding his availability for future games.
Source: ESPN
