Saquon Barkley is back on the practice field for the Philadelphia Eagles. That’s the word from Thursday, and it’s a huge shot of adrenaline for a team that desperately needs it right now.
The King Is Back? Or Just a Glimmer of Hope?
Barkley has been out since Week 4, sidelined with a hamstring injury he picked up in the first quarter against the Los Angeles Rams. He’s missed two games. If things go well this week, he’s lined up to play against the Dallas Cowboys on “Monday Night Football.” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni didn’t mince words about getting their star back on the field. “Anytime you have an opportunity to get someone like him back on the field, that’s huge,” he said before practice. “We’ll see where we are as the week progresses, but we’re looking forward to seeing him out there today.” Sounds like the team knows exactly what they’ve been missing.
Ravaged By Injuries, The Numbers Don’t Lie
“Huge” doesn’t even begin to cover it, honestly. Philadelphia’s been absolutely decimated by injuries. Quarterback Jalen Hurts is done for the season with a blood clot, which is just brutal. On top of that, fellow running backs Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley are out. Wide receiver DeVonta Smith also missed two games with a hamstring issue, though he did return to play on Sunday.
Shipley was hit with a foot injury during the Eagles’ London loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars and landed on injured reserve. A week before that, Bigsby went on IR after needing core muscle surgery. Dameon Pierce has been trying to hold down the fort at running back alongside Shipley in Barkley’s absence. All these injuries have crushed their run game. The Eagles are averaging a pathetic 82.2 rushing yards per game, which puts them at 29th in the entire NFL. Both games Barkley missed? Losses. And that’s why this team is on a four-game losing streak, sitting at a brutal 2-4 record.
Can Barkley Turn the Tide in the NFC East Gauntlet?
This isn’t just about getting a star player back. This is about survival. Philadelphia is tied for second in the NFC East with the Cowboys heading into Week 7. They’ve got three straight division matchups coming up, Cowboys, Washington Commanders, and New York Giants, before their bye week. Getting Barkley back, even if he’s not 100 percent, could be the only shot they have to save this season from completely spiraling. Monday night is going to be electric, and they’ll need every ounce of Saquon.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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