Barkley Gains 62 Yards in Nine-Snap Return for Eagles

The Eagles lost 38-21 to the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night, but the result took a back seat to the physical condition of their feature back. Saquon Barkley returned to the active roster after missing the previous two games with a hamstring injury. He finished with 62 rushing yards and a touchdown on just nine offensive snaps.

Barkley touched the football on every single one of those plays. According to ESPN, he is the first NFL starter in the past 20 seasons to record a touch on at least nine offensive snaps in a single game. He carried the ball seven times and caught two passes for nine receiving yards.

The running back entered the contest listed as questionable. Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said the staff felt Barkley was ready to play, though they planned to monitor him closely. "He's tough as heck," Sirianni said. "He wanted to be out there for his teammates, probably had to slow him up."

Barkley managed two distinct complaints during the contest. He tweaked his back on a 29-yard run in the first quarter. The pain worsened as the game progressed, limiting his workload. His final snap came in the third quarter. He spent time in the medical tent and stretched with trainers on the bench before heading to the sideline exercise bike after scoring his first-quarter touchdown.

Following the game, Barkley described his hamstring recovery as "great." He stated he does not believe the back issue will sideline him, though he deferred to the training staff for the final call. "It's just not responding the way I want it to respond right now," he said regarding his back.

The Eagles are navigating a thin running back room. Will Shipley, Tank Bigsby, and Carson Steele are on injured reserve. Dameon Pierce left in the fourth quarter with an undisclosed injury. Elijah Mitchell, promoted from the practice squad, handled the remaining rushing duties.