The Eagles’ backfield took a hit almost as soon as the dust settled from Sunday’s 24-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Tank Bigsby is headed to injured reserve after suffering a core muscle injury that will require surgery, according to NFL Media. Ian Rapoport reported the expectation is that Bigsby could return in about six weeks.
Bigsby’s injury came in a game that already left Philadelphia with a longer list of questions. Saquon Barkley was among the players knocked out of the loss, along with outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard and cornerback Quinyon Mitchell. Barkley exited with a hamstring issue, and Nick Sirianni didn’t have a firm update after the game.
“We'll see,” he said. “These guys are going through different things with treatment and all those different things. We'll see how everything responds and have more answers for you, probably Wednesday.
“I know he'll work to do everything he can do to get himself back. Obviously, he's a great player and a great teammate. We always need him on the field.”
Barkley’s season has already been interrupted once before. He dealt with a shoulder stinger in the Week 2 win at Tennessee and was limited to 12 snaps in that game.
Through the games he has played, he has carried the ball 36 times for 182 yards, averaging 5.1 yards per rush. He still hasn’t found the end zone this year after scoring seven touchdowns last season.
At 29, Barkley may be dealing with the wear that comes with the territory, but when he’s been on the field, he has still looked like the same bursty, explosive runner.
Bigsby had been Barkley’s primary backup for the last two seasons. Against the Rams, he handled 14 carries for 55 yards. For the year, he has 98 yards and a touchdown on 28 rushing attempts, good for a 3.3-yard average.
If Barkley can’t go against the Jaguars in London on Sunday, the Eagles would be down to Will Shipley at running back. Philadelphia also has three practice-squad backs who could be elevated or added to the roster to cover Bigsby’s absence: Carson Steele and Dameon Pierce, both of whom spent training camp with the team, and Jaydon Blue, a fifth-round pick of the Dallas Cowboys last year who was released and claimed by Philly.
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