The Eagles needed better news on Saquon Barkley, and they got at least some of it Monday.
After Barkley left Philadelphia’s 24-20 home loss to the Los Angeles Rams with a hamstring injury, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that the issue does not appear to be serious. Rapoport said, "Saquon Barkley left early in the game with a hamstring injury and was not able to return," and added, "The severity of this injury will be determined by tests today at the outset. It does not seem to be overly serious, but we will see for Saquon how long he's going to be out and when he is able to return."
Barkley’s exit came at a bad time for an Eagles team that had already watched a 10-point lead disappear late against the Rams. Once he was out, Philadelphia lost one of its best ways to keep the offense on schedule and open up easier looks for Jalen Hurts.
Tank Bigsby handled 14 carries for 55 yards after Barkley left, while Will Shipley added six carries for 23 yards. That’s not the same kind of threat Barkley brings when he’s rolling.
Through three games, Barkley has 182 rushing yards on 36 carries, good for 5.1 yards per attempt. He’s been a key piece of Philadelphia’s early-season offense, and his presence gives the Eagles the kind of balanced attack that can change the tone of a drive in a hurry.
For now, though, the bigger story is the injury itself. The initial read is encouraging, and if Rapoport’s report proves accurate, Barkley may not be sidelined for long.
In Other News...
Oilers Trade Interest In Young Center Suddenly Gets More Complicated
The Flyers early offensive issues made the front office move quickly, and Michael Bunting was brought in on a one-year, $1.2 million contract as part of that effort. Philadelphia had been short on finish through the opening stretch, and the hope is that Bunting can help add a little more spark to a group that has been searching for goals and cleaner looks in the attacking zone.
Elsewhere around the league, trade chatter involving a young center has only added another layer to the Flyers corner of the rumor mill. Edmonton has reportedly talked with an Eastern Conference team about a possible deal, with Bostons Matt Poitras among the names being floated, though nothing has been finalized. For Philadelphia, it is the kind of background noise that can matter, especially as the club keeps trying to sort out its own scoring picture while other teams weigh whether to make a move. [Read more 🡒]
Red Wings Face Growing Pressure Around Two Crucial Roster Situations
The Flyers are back in the early-season spotlight for all the wrong reasons, with Rick Tocchet and his staff already feeling the heat after a winless start. There is always a little panic baked into October when the details slip and the results do not follow, and Philadelphia has given its coach and assistants no real cushion as they try to settle the group down and get the season pointed in the right direction.
Across the league, Detroit has its own roster questions building in the background, and those decisions could ripple well beyond its own locker room. Contract talks with restricted free agent defenseman Simon Edvinsson have yet to show movement, Dylan Larkins situation remains fluid, and Kris Drapers shift into the pro scouting department only adds another layer to the evaluation process as the Red Wings weigh what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Flyers Already Look Stuck With A Roster Problem They Created
The Flyers came into training camp with a roster that felt mostly decided before the competition even got going, and the shortened preseason only made that approach harder to challenge. Danny Briere acknowledged the team had a preset mindset, which meant there was limited room for younger players to force their way onto the opening night lineup even as Cole Knuble and Jett Luchanko showed enough promise to at least keep the conversation alive.
Philadelphias caution has left it with a familiar early-season problem: a roster that may not have much flexibility when opportunities appear. Even with injuries creating openings, the Flyers still did not lean into them for a young forward, a choice that speaks to how carefully the organization is managing its prospects and how quickly a self-imposed logjam can turn into a real issue once the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]