Barkley Touches Ball on All Nine Snaps in Eagles Loss

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley returned to the field Monday night against Dallas, carrying nine times for 62 yards and a touchdown while playing only nine offensive snaps. The Eagles lost 38-21. Barkley said afterward that his hamstring "came out great" and that he does not expect a back issue to sideline him.

Barkley entered the game listed as questionable with a hamstring injury that had kept him out the previous two weeks. The Eagles planned to manage his workload, and his snap count fell further after his back tightened as the game progressed. He touched the ball on every snap he played, recording two receptions for 9 yards to go with his rushing numbers. According to the team, he is the first NFL starter in 20 seasons to see at least nine offensive snaps in a game and receive a touch on each one.

Coach Nick Sirianni said the medical staff cleared Barkley before the game and that the team monitored him closely afterward. "He's tough as heck," Sirianni said. "He wanted to be out there for his teammates, probably had to slow him up." Barkley spent time in the medical tent, stretched with trainers on the bench, and moved to a sideline exercise bike immediately after his 8-yard touchdown run on Philadelphia's first possession.

Barkley said he tweaked his back on a 29-yard run in the first quarter and that it worsened from there. His final snap came in the third quarter. He said he does not believe the back problem will keep him out, though he deferred to the training staff on the decision. "I truly love this game, and I feel like if you're able to go, sometimes you've got to push your body to the limit," he said.

Philadelphia's running back room has been hit by injuries. Will Shipley (foot), Tank Bigsby (abdomen) and Carson Steele (shoulder) are on injured reserve. Dameon Pierce left in the fourth quarter with an undisclosed injury, putting Elijah Mitchell, promoted from the practice squad for the game, into the rotation.