Saquon Barkley is back in the mix for the Philadelphia Eagles, and that alone puts Monday night’s Week 3 matchup against the Chicago Bears in the spotlight.
The star running back has been cleared for action, and the setup around him looks promising too. After a frustrating start to the 2026 season, Barkley now gets another chance to find room behind an Eagles offensive line that should be in better shape for this one.
In the home opener against Washington, Barkley flashed the burst that makes him such a dangerous weapon. He still had to fight through tight space at times, but he managed 83 rushing yards on 15 carries, good for 5.5 yards per carry. The issue was less about his legs and more about what was happening in front of him.
That front now includes Drew Kendall at center and Cam Jurgens sliding out to left guard, a look Philadelphia used in Week 2 against Tennessee before Barkley exited early in the first quarter with a stinger. With Barkley back, the Eagles face a Chicago defense that has been giving up production on the ground.
Through two games, the Bears have allowed 244 rushing yards and have recorded only two tackles for loss. That opens the door for Philadelphia’s line to create the kind of movement Barkley needs to turn runs into chunk gains. Tennessee created interior problems for the Eagles in Week 2, largely because of All-Pro defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons, but Chicago does not bring that same kind of force up front.
If the Eagles communicate cleanly and win their blocks, Barkley should have space to work with.
The Bears’ defense is not the only part of this matchup that points toward a physical night. Chicago will be without starting quarterback Caleb Williams, but its offense has already been productive on the ground. Former Eagle D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai have helped fuel more than 200 rushing yards per game, and Tank Bigsby will also be involved for Philadelphia, with Will Shipley another possible factor.
Still, this has the feel of a Barkley game. All the pieces are there for a heavy workload and a chance to break loose for something bigger than what he has had so far this season.
In Other News...
Eagles Loss Exposed A Bigger Problem Than One Bad Night
The Eagles 27-7 loss to the Bears on Monday Night Football looked bad on the surface, and the details only made it harder to dismiss. Philadelphia gave away the ball three times, drew 10 penalties and spent much of the night chasing Chicagos passing game, with the Bears finding steady answers through the air. For a team trying to stay on track, it was the kind of performance that turns one rough result into a much bigger conversation.
A few individual efforts still stood out, with DeVonta Smith and Saquon Barkley providing some of the few bright spots on an otherwise frustrating night. But the struggles of players such as Marcus Epps and Andy Dalton only added to the sense that this was more than an off game, especially for a defense that could not settle in against Case Keenums rhythm. The loss left the Eagles looking for answers in a hurry, because the issues exposed here went well beyond one bad evening. [Read more 🡒]
Jalen Hurts Gave Eagles Fans A Major Scare On One Brutal Hit
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Hurts was eventually cleared and returned to the game, easing the immediate concern for a team that could ill afford to lose its starter in a prime-time matchup. Chicago had already grabbed an early lead on Case Keenums touchdown pass, so the sequence only added to an uneasy start for Philadelphia, which had to keep playing while its most important player was being checked out. [Read more 🡒]
Nick Siriannis Sideline Outburst Started With One Alarming Eagles Moment
The moment that set off Nick Siriannis sideline reaction came in the middle of a rough night for the Eagles on Monday Night Football, when Jalen Hurts took a hit that sent him into a concussion evaluation. Cameras caught Sirianni yelling at Bears linebacker DMarco Jackson in the aftermath, a flashpoint that stood out even more in a lopsided 27-7 loss for Philadelphia.
Sirianni later apologized for his language and said he regretted the way he handled himself, a notable admission from a coach whose sideline intensity has long been part of the package. For the Eagles, the bigger concern remains the health of Hurts and the larger fallout from a game that went sideways quickly, but the sideline scene added another layer to an already frustrating night. [Read more 🡒]