Eagles back Saquon Barkley for nine snaps in 38-21 Cowboys loss

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley touched the ball on all nine offensive snaps he played against the Dallas Cowboys in a 38-21 loss on Monday night. The returner finished with seven carries for 62 yards and a touchdown, along with two receptions for 9 yards.

Barkley, who missed the previous two weeks with a hamstring injury, stated that his muscle "came out great." He indicated he does not expect a new back issue to keep him sidelined, though he deferred final decisions to the training staff. The back problem began after a 29-yard run in the first quarter and worsened as the game progressed, causing his last snap to occur in the third quarter.

He is the first NFL starter in the last 20 seasons to record at least nine offensive snaps with a touch on every single one. Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni noted the staff prioritized health before allowing Barkley onto the field. "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," Sirianni said.

Sirianni described Barkley as "tough as heck," adding that the veteran wanted to be on the field for his teammates and likely had to be slowed down. "He'd be out there every play because of the person he is and the teammate he is and the toughness that he has," the coach said.

Barkley visibly managed his pain during the contest. He spent time in the medical tent and stretched with trainers on the bench. Immediately after scoring on an 8-yard run during the first offensive possession, he moved directly to an exercise bike on the sideline. He described the situation as a challenge, noting, "I'm trying, it's just not responding the way I want it to respond right now."

The Eagles' running back room is currently depleted. Will Shipley, Tank Bigsby, and Carson Steele are on injured reserve with foot, abdomen, and shoulder issues, respectively. Dameon Pierce exited the game in the fourth quarter due to an undisclosed injury. This left Elijah Mitchell, who was promoted from the practice squad for the game, to handle the remaining running duties.