Coming off an electric season in which he rushed for 2,005 yards and earned Offensive Player of the Year honors, this year has been far more challenging for Saquon Barkley.
The explosives have been nearly non-existent, and the Eagles’ offense has been inconsistent from week to week. Adding to the concerns, Barkley is now dealing with an injury that puts his availability for the Eagles’ Black Friday game in question.
What Is the Latest on Saquon Barkley?
Barkley was listed on this week’s practice report with a groin injury, raising questions about the running back’s availability. The issue dates back to Week 8 and appears to have persisted.
In that Week 8 game against the New York Giants, Barkley had one of his best performances of the season. He rushed 14 times for 150 yards and a touchdown and added four receptions for 24 yards and another score. The performance could have been even stronger if not for the injury.
The injury became noticeable on the final play of the third quarter. Barkley ran for a nice 28-yard gain but showed signs of discomfort afterward. He went to the sideline and was listed as questionable to return. With the Eagles in control, the team opted not to risk him, and he did not re-enter the game.
Philadelphia’s Week 9 bye provided extra time to rest and recover. Barkley stayed on the injury report as a precaution heading into Week 10 but was able to complete three full practices before returning to action.
By Weeks 11 and 12, he had been removed from the practice report and appeared fully healthy.
Week 13 brought a brief setback. Barkley was listed as limited in Tuesday and Wednesday practices due to a groin issue. However, it is difficult to determine if it was a result of anything in their Week 12 game against Dallas.
Thursday brought encouraging news as Barkley was listed as a full participant, suggesting the team was simply managing his workload during the short week. Now, Barkley is officially off the injury report and ready to go in Week 13.
Philadelphia faces the Chicago Bears in the annual Black Friday game. After a tough 24-21 loss to Dallas, where they gave up a 21-0 lead, the Eagles are looking to get back on track. The Eagles currently rank 16th in offense, according to PFSN’s Offense Impact metric.
Both the Eagles and Bears sit at 8-3, tied for the second-best record in the NFC. This matchup will be an essential test for Barkley and the Eagles as they continue their push toward the playoffs.