Saquon Barkley isn’t throwing in the towel on these Eagles, or his injuries: ‘I’ve seen seasons like this flip’
Barkley expressed optimism that he would play this Sunday despite being limited to nine snaps against the Cowboys.
Saquon Barkley stood at his locker stall Thursday after practice and said that it only takes one game to change the course of the season.
Four days later, Barkley, back from a hamstring injury that kept him out for two weeks, gave the Eagles a big lift on the team’s first drive. They needed just four plays to go 75 yards and it was mostly because the ball was in Barkley’s hands.
Tanner McKee found the running back for a 12-yard gain on an under-center play-action pass to start the drive. Then Barkley found space on a run up the left side for 29 yards. Two plays later, Barkley found the end zone from eight yards out, his first touchdown of the season.
» READ MORE: Eagles drop fifth straight; porous defense struggles to get off field in 38-21 loss to Cowboys
It looked like Barkley’s words from Thursday would prove prophetic. Offensive coordinator Sean Mannion drew up a perfect opening script. The Eagles scored touchdowns on their first two possessions for the first time since Week 12 of last season.
But the good vibes were short-lived. Barkley, already on a snap restriction, was hobbling on the first series, not because of his hamstring, but because his back locked up on him. He spent time on the sideline working with trainers and riding a stationary bike, and when he wasn’t treating his ailments, he tried to implore a reeling Eagles team to stay in the game.
Barkley played just nine snaps — fewer than the team planned — and touched the ball every time he was on the field, carrying seven times for 62 yards while adding two catches for nine yards. The Eagles scored three touchdowns on their first five possessions and then faded into the night. On a night the offense showed signs of life, the defense imploded, and the losing streak reached five games.
The loss stung the most, but Barkley, who effectively has missed half of the Eagles’ first seven games, is frustrated with his body, too.
“I don’t get it,” he said. “I just got to find a way to get healthy. It’s annoying. But that’s what I’m dealing with so far in the season, and I just got to find a way to get healthy.”
Barkley said he doesn’t expect the back issue will be one that keeps him off the field next weekend when the Eagles visit the Washington Commanders, but the Eagles finished Monday night’s game without six offensive starters from Week 1, and nothing is guaranteed.
» READ MORE: Eagles grades vs. Cowboys: Defensive line invisible, tough night for Riq Woolen
Given that Barkley pushed hard to return for Monday night, he likely will do everything he can to get back on the field again Sunday.
“It’s kind of the school of thought I come from,” Barkley said. “I truly love this game and if you’re able to go, sometimes you got to push your body to the limit. I’m trying and it’s not responding the way I want it to respond right now. It sucks because I’m trying to be the best leader I want to be and it’s hard when you’re not able to be out there and perform for your team. But I can’t make any excuses, that’s just the hand I’m dealt with right now.”
It’s the hand the Eagles are dealt with. They played Monday night without top receivers DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks. McKee started consecutive games for the first time since he was a senior at Stanford in 2022. Behind Barkley on the running back depth chart Monday night were a guy who started the season on the practice squad (Dameon Pierce) and another who was signed to the practice squad this week after spending training camp with the team (Elijah Mitchell).
But Barkley remains undeterred, despite the results and the persistent setbacks on offense.
He said he’s not normally a vocal leader, and usually leads by example, but “the season and games call for different moments.” So Barkley spoke to the team in the locker room after the game.
“I felt like the moment was right,” he said. “I don’t know. How I look at life, I feel like you just never quit. You never give up. You just keep fighting no matter what the situation is, how it looks. I feel like we have the men in the locker room to do it. We put ourselves in this situation and now we got to dig ourselves out of it.”
» READ MORE: Jeffrey Lurie couldn’t celebrate the Eagles or himself against the Cowboys. What now for his team?
He said he spoke recently with some of the younger players on the Eagles.
“You lose two games in college and the chance for you competing for a national championship is done,” Barkley said. “That’s not the case here.
“Not looking too far down the line, but I’ve seen seasons like this flip.”
He pointed to the Eagles in 2021, which Nick Sirianni also did after Monday night’s game. That year, Sirianni’s first, the Eagles were 3-6 before winning six of eight to finish at 9-8 and in a playoff spot.
“That’s the crazy thing,” Barkley said. “It just takes one win. And after you get one, you got to find a way to get another one.
“Until it’s statistically over, I’m going to believe in that.”
You wonder how many others do.
The Eagles seem reluctant to address the handling of the Jalen Hurts blood clots saga, but the key questions involved in the story aren’t going anywhere. Throughout the week, in the absence of remarks from general manager Howie Roseman or team medical personnel, head coach Nick Sirianni was peppered by reporters. He’s offered few details in return. After speaking with high-ranking medical officials currently or previously employed by NFL teams, The Inquirer’s Jeff McLane frames four central issues that remain unanswered, while also looking at what this situation means for Hurts’ future in Philadelphia. Listen here.
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