Saquon Barkley’s afternoon took a troubling turn almost as soon as it started Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.
The Eagles had opened their Week 4 matchup against the Rams with a 3-0 lead and were trying to lean on the run game early. Instead, just about three minutes into the first quarter, Barkley went down on a six-yard carry and appeared to suffer a non-contact injury to his right hamstring.
He got up slowly, clearly protecting the leg, then headed to the sideline before making a trip to the medical tent and eventually the locker room. Philadelphia later marked him as questionable to return.
There was no immediate word on how serious the injury might be, though it looked like a hamstring issue from the way Barkley left the field. That stood in sharp contrast to the scare he had during an August practice, when he tweaked something but stayed on the field and avoided anything major.
The Eagles were already dealing with absences, including DeVonta Smith’s hamstring injury from August. Sunday’s setback only added to the list. The Rams were without Aaron Donald, and Philadelphia had started the day with its offense clicking, but Barkley’s exit forced a quick pivot.
Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley took over in the backfield after Barkley went out, stepping into the carries the offense had been built around with almost no warning. Now the Eagles have to sort out their plan on the fly, with their top back sidelined and their passing game already thinner after trading A.J. Brown away earlier this year.
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Tank Bigsby stepped in after Barkley exited, with Will Shipley also picking up snaps as the Eagles tried to piece together the running game on the fly. Barkley has still produced 174 rushing yards through the first four weeks, but the bigger worry now is whether this is becoming a pattern rather than a one-off, and how long Philadelphia can keep its ground game on track if he keeps getting dinged up. [Read more 🡒]