Barkley Runs 62 Yards in Eagles Loss Despite Hamstring and Back Issues

Saquon Barkley recorded a touch on nine of nine offensive snaps during the Philadelphia Eagles' 38-21 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night. This marks the first time in 20 seasons that an NFL starter has played at least nine offensive snaps and recorded a touch on every one.

Barkley finished the game with seven carries for 62 yards and one touchdown, along with two receptions for 9 yards. He had been sidelined for the previous two weeks with a hamstring injury but was listed as questionable for this matchup. The Eagles limited his workload, a number that decreased further when he experienced back tightness as the contest progressed.

The running back tweaked his back on a 29-yard run in the first quarter and stated the issue worsened from that point. He spent time in the medical tent and stretched with trainers on the bench. Immediately after his 8-yard touchdown run on the first offensive possession, he moved to the exercise bike on the sideline. His final snap occurred in the third quarter.

Nick Sirianni, the Eagles head coach, said the staff 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. But obviously wanted to keep a close eye on him," Sirianni said. He noted that Barkley likely would have played every play if not for the coaching staff's intervention.

Barkley said his hamstring felt "great" upon his return. He believes the back issue will not keep him out of future games, though he deferred to the training staff for the final decision. "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.

The Eagles are dealing with significant depth issues at running back. Will Shipley, Tank Bigsby, and Carson Steele are on injured reserve due to foot, abdomen, and shoulder injuries, respectively. Dameon Pierce exited the fourth quarter with an undisclosed injury. Elijah Mitchell, who was brought up from the practice squad for this game, is now handling the remaining running duties.

Barkley described his mindset as managing the injuries throughout the contest. He said he is trying to be the best leader he can be, noting the difficulty of performing for the team when the body is not responding as desired.