Philadelphia – In a disappointing turn for the Eagles, running back Saquon Barkley suffered a hamstring injury on his second carry of Sunday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. The 29‑year‑old was seen limping after a 6‑yard rush with 11:34 left in the first quarter, rubbing the back of his right leg before heading to the medical tent.
In‑game impact
Barkley’s early exit forced head coach Nick Sirianni to insert rookie Tank Bigsby, who took over the backfield duties before the injured star was escorted to the locker room. The team listed Barkley as “questionable” for a possible return later in the game, but he did not re‑enter.
Up to that point, Barkley had contributed eight yards on two carries and had not found the end zone this season, tallying 182 rushing yards without a touchdown over four games. His absence leaves a noticeable void in an offense already missing top wide receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring), tight end Dallas Goedert (knee), and right tackle Lane Johnson (personal reasons).
Season context
Despite the slow start to the 2026 season, Barkley’s recent history against the Rams has been impressive. In his three previous meetings with Los Angeles since joining the Eagles, he amassed 506 yards and four touchdowns on 70 carries. Notably, he set a franchise record with 255 rushing yards on November 24, 2024, and posted a playoff‑record 205 yards in the divisional round on January 19, 2025.
The injury comes at a critical juncture for Philadelphia, which is fighting to stay competitive in the NFC East. With multiple key players sidelined, the coaching staff will need to lean on depth players and adjust the game plan to keep the offense moving.
What’s next for Barkley?
Team physicians will evaluate the severity of the hamstring strain over the next few days. If the injury is minor, Barkley could return to practice within a week, but a more serious strain could keep him out for several games. The Eagles have not announced a timeline for his recovery.
Fans are urged to stay tuned to official team communications for updates on Barkley’s status and the broader injury report ahead of the next matchup.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
