Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley stated his hamstring came out great following a limited return in a 38-21 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night. Despite a back issue that flared up during the game, Barkley does not expect the new injury to keep him out going forward.
Saquon Barkley returned to the field for the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night after missing the previous two weeks due to a hamstring injury. The running back finished the game with seven carries for 62 yards and a touchdown alongside two receptions for 9 yards during a 38-21 defeat against the Dallas Cowboys.
Barkley Touches Ball on Every Snap
He played a total of nine offensive snaps and touched the football on every single one of them, making him 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. The Eagles coaching staff attempted to manage Barkley’s workload by limiting his carries after he entered the contest as questionable. That snap count dropped further when his back locked up as the matchup progressed.
Barkley tweaked his back on a 29-yard run in the first quarter, and the discomfort worsened throughout the night. Following an 8-yard touchdown run on the team’s opening possession, he headed straight for the sideline exercise bike. He spent additional time receiving treatment in the medical tent and stretching with trainers on the bench before playing his final snap in the third quarter.
When you go into something like that, you make sure the player’s health is first and foremost. 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. But obviously wanted to keep a close eye on him.
Coach Nick Sirianni praised his running back’s resilience following the game, noting that Barkley wanted to remain on the field for every play due to his competitive nature and commitment to his teammates.
Injuries Hit Philadelphia Backfield
Barkley stated that his hamstring felt great upon his return and indicated he does not believe the back issue will sideline him long-term, though he deferred final judgment to the team’s training staff. 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,
Barkley said.
Running backs Will Shipley (foot), Tank Bigsby (abdomen), and Carson Steele (shoulder) are currently placed on injured reserve. Meanwhile, Dameon Pierce exited the game in the fourth quarter with an undisclosed injury, leaving Elijah Mitchell—promoted from the practice squad for the matchup—to handle the remaining rushing duties.
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