Saquon Barkley’s selflessness in the Giants game was especially meaningful to Eagles rookie Will Shipley
Barkley received his second NFL weekly honor of the season, and it was willingness to "see the young boys eat" that helped backup running back Shipley get his first carries.
Photographers gather around Eagles running back Saquon Barkley after the 28-3 victory over the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on Sunday.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
The Eagles running back finished the 28-3 win against his former team with 176 rushing yards and one touchdown to go along with two receptions for 11 yards. It’s his second time winning the award, with the first coming after his 109-yard, three-touchdown performance against the Green Bay Packers in the Eagles’ season opener.
Barkley finished just 13 rushing yards shy of matching his career high against the Giants but elected to sit for most of the fourth quarter along with the majority of the Eagles’ offensive starters when given the choice to chase the milestone by Eagles coach Nick Sirianni.
Eagles rookie running back Will Shipley was the main beneficiary of Barkley’s answer to Sirianni’s offer, which was posted to the team’s social media pages earlier this week. Getting the first carries of his career, the fourth-round pick out of Clemson said Wednesday that he wasn’t surprised to see Barkley tell Sirianni he’d “rather see the young boys eat.”
“It was awesome,” said Shipley, who had eight attempts for 15 yards. “That’s who I’ve been around for the past couple months, he’s selfless. He’s a leader. Somebody that you look up, to a role model. It didn’t surprise me, but I was grateful. … Everybody would have loved for him to get that against his old team. I would have told him to go do it. I would have taken a step back and been like, ‘You go do it.’ But he wanted me to go out there and get my first touches in the league, that’s something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”
Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni thanks fans after his team beat the New York Giants 28-3 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Sunday, October 20, 2024.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley shake hands with 3:23 seconds left in the fourth quarter while playing the New York Giants.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts claps after the Eagles beat the New York Giants 28-3.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
New York Giants quarterback Drew Lock fumbles the football, he was tackled by Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Jalyx Hunt during the fourth quarter.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
A Philadelphia Eagles fan dances as the Eagles have a 28-3 lead in the fourth quarter while playing the New York Giants.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni talk during the fourth quarter.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
A Philadelphia Eagles fan flaps their arms as the Eagles lead 28-3 in the fourth quarter.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean celebrates after sacking New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones in the second quarter.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is all fired after picking up a big first down during the fourth quarter.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean and Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay Jr. (blocked) try to tackle New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers during the second quarter.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley gains 55 yards before New York Giants cornerback Deonte Banks pushes him out of bounds during the second quarter.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts reacts after picking up a first down in the fourth quarter against the Giants.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Eagles defensive end Bryce Huff goes after New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones in the second quarter at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean stops New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones in the first quarter.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts pushed to get into the end zone while playing the New York Giants.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles running back Kenneth Gainwell picks up a big run but is brought down by New York Giants safety Tyler Nubin.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson and Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown celebrate Hurts punching in the ball to score during the third quarter while playing the New York Giants.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown celebrate Hurts’ touchdown in the third quarter.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley after a big gain in the third quarter against the New York Giants.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts prepares to do a quarterback sneak, tush push, for the touchdown in the third quarter while playing the New York Giants.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
New York Giants safety Jason Pinnock misses a tackle on Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley on a big gain in the third quarter.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
New York Giants linebacker Brian Burns puts pressure on Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts as he throws the ball in the third quarter.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts gestures at the line before snapping the ball in the third quarter while playing the New York Giants.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nolan Smith Jr. and Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Moro Ojomo get to New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones and sack him during the first quarter.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (right) greets Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (left) before the Philadelphia Eagles play the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Barkley is returning to face his former team for the first time.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (right) warms up before the Philadelphia Eagles play the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Eagles fans cheer for Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley before the Philadelphia Eagles play the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Eagles running back Saquon Barkley warms up before the Eagles play the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
After signing a three-year, $37.75 million contract with the Eagles in the offseason, Barkley is having one of the most efficient years of his career so far. His yards per attempt, yards per game, and rushing success rate are each significantly higher than his previous career bests. He’s also on pace to score his highest number of touchdowns in a season and a record number of rushes of 10 or more yards.
Going into the game, he said he didn’t feel he had anything to prove to the Giants after unsuccessful contract extension led to his leaving in free agency. After his dominant performance, Barkley conceded that seeing fans burn his jersey in the parking lot as the Eagles’ team bus pulled into MetLife Stadium gave him a little extra motivation.
“That was crazy,” Barkley said. “I’ve seen my jersey get burned before on social media, but the timing of it. I’m locked in, I’m listening to my music, and all I see is fans just pointing, and I look and I’m like, ‘What are they pointing at?’ I see smoke and I’m just like, ‘Where’s my jersey at?’
“That was definitely different. I don’t know if I’ve ever experienced anything like that in my life and hopefully, I don’t experience that again but, in that moment, I was ready for third-and-1.”
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