Saquon Barkley gave the Eagles plenty to like during Thursday’s training camp work - and then delivered the kind of scare Philadelphia does not want to see in August.
The star running back was sharp in drills against the Eagles’ defense, but later appeared to tweak his left foot or ankle. NBC Sports reported that Barkley’s cleat came off while trainers looked at his foot, and he stayed on the field rather than going into the medical tent. The team has not announced a diagnosis or said he suffered a major injury, so the situation is still being treated as something to monitor rather than a confirmed setback.
That’s about the last thing the Eagles need with their most important offensive piece. Barkley is entering his third season with Philadelphia after a first year that was nothing short of historic. In 2024, he ran for 2,005 yards and 13 touchdowns and added 278 receiving yards with two more scores.
Philadelphia is also coming off a disappointing 2025 season offensively, which only raises the stakes around Barkley’s health. He’s not just a featured player; he’s become the centerpiece of the attack since signing with the Eagles in 2024, and his explosiveness has made him one of the league’s most dangerous backs.
The good news for the Eagles is that they do have depth behind him if they need it. Their current running back room includes Tank Bigsby, Will Shipley, Dameon Pierce, Carson Steele and Ja’Quinden Jackson. Camp has already featured questions about who will step into roles behind Barkley, and the team highlighted that battle in its 2026 running back position preview.
Bigsby is the most familiar name in that mix. He joined the Eagles in September 2025 after Philadelphia acquired him from Jacksonville before Week 2, and he finished that season with 344 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Even so, none of the backups bring Barkley’s proven production.
With Philadelphia set to open preseason play Saturday against the Baltimore Ravens, there’s no reason to force the issue with a player of Barkley’s importance. The Eagles have already dealt with several injury developments during camp, and Thursday’s session added another layer of attention to the backfield.
Barkley’s availability matters well beyond one preseason game, too. The Eagles are adjusting to a new system under offensive coordinator Sean Mannion, and ESPN’s 2026 Eagles camp preview pointed to Barkley’s role as one of the team’s major offensive storylines. The new scheme could open up different opportunities for him, which makes his status a central concern as camp rolls on.
For now, the Eagles are left waiting.
In Other News...
Former Eagles RB Faces Heartbreaking Race Against Time With Daughter
A former NFL running back got a heartbreaking reprieve this week when Gloucester County Superior Court Judge Renard Scott granted him early release from prison so he could spend time with his critically ill daughter. The ruling came after the judge approved a motion to withdraw the players guilty plea, clearing the way for him to leave despite prosecutors seeking a stay.
The former Eagles back had been serving an 18-month federal sentence tied to COVID-related fraud, along with a concurrent state sentence for gun possession, when his case took a deeply personal turn. His 8-year-old daughter Mila is now in palliative care with an aggressive kidney cancer diagnosis, a situation that has shifted the focus far from the legal case and onto a family racing against time. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Suddenly Have A Receiver Decision They Cant Ignore
Ten practices into camp, the Eagles have gotten encouraging signs along the interior of the offensive line, where the depth looks better than it did a year ago. But the receiver room is still drawing attention for the wrong reasons, especially after the trade of A.J. Brown left a vacancy that has not been cleanly filled. With the roster still taking shape, the team is balancing a few promising position battles against the reality that some areas simply look thinner than others.
Makai Lemons injuries have kept him from getting the kind of run he would need to settle the WR3 discussion, and the competition behind him has not produced an obvious answer. For a team trying to protect itself against more injuries and keep enough trusted bodies on hand, the next move at receiver may need to come from outside the building, even as the Eagles weigh how to preserve depth elsewhere with players like Byron Young, Michael Carter, Nolan Smith and Brandon Graham still mattering in that bigger picture. [Read more 🡒]
Former Eagles Running Back Granted Release Amid Heartbreaking Family Crisis
A former NFL running back who once spent time with the Eagles has been granted early release from prison so he can be with his critically ill daughter, who is now in palliative care after unsuccessful cancer treatments. The decision from Gloucester County Superior Court Judge Renard Scott came during a deeply personal stretch for the family, marking a rare break from the legal battles that had kept the former back behind bars.
He had been serving an 18-month federal sentence tied to COVID-related fraud, along with a concurrent state sentence for gun possession, before the court allowed him to leave. The case also took a procedural turn after a motion to withdraw his guilty plea followed a recent appeals court ruling involving New Jerseys assault weapons ban, adding another layer to an already difficult situation that now centers on his daughters condition. [Read more 🡒]