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Saquon Barkley's Return Boosts Eagles' Chances Against Cowboys
Confirmed
In Short: While the Eagles are still without quarterback Jalen Hurts, who is expected to miss the remainder of the season due to blood clots in his lungs, and wide receiver DeVonta Smith, who has been ruled out with a hamstring injury, the return of Barkley could provide a much-needed boost to the team's morale and performance.
The Philadelphia Eagles are optimistic that star running back Saquon Barkley will return for their Week 7 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football. Barkley, who has been sidelined since suffering a hamstring injury in Week 5, practiced in full on Saturday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni expressed enthusiasm about the possibility of having Barkley back, noting that it would be a significant boost for the team's offense.
Barkley's potential return comes at a critical time for the Eagles, who are currently 2-4 and in desperate need of a win. The team's list of injured players includes nearly half of the active 53-man roster, making Barkley's availability even more crucial. His presence could provide a much-needed spark to an offense that has struggled in recent games, particularly in the running game.
Barkley's impact on the field has been evident in the games he has played this season. Across his two fully healthy games, he has run for 165 yards with a 5.5 yards-per-carry average, according to NFL.com. However, in the four games he has played, he has rushed for only 182 yards and zero touchdowns, and played under 16% of offensive snaps in half of his appearances, as reported by CBS Sports.
The Eagles' running game has been particularly weak in Barkley's absence. In the past two games he missed, the team rushed for just 22 and 35 yards, respectively. Barkley's return could significantly improve the team's rushing attack, which has averaged only 2.8 yards per rush on 71 attempts this season, compared to his 5.1 yards per rush on 36 rushes.
Despite the Eagles' struggles, Barkley's potential return offers a glimmer of hope for the team. Eagles fans and analysts are cautiously optimistic, noting that the team's offensive strategy has evolved in his absence. In a recent game against the Tennessee Titans, the Eagles managed to maintain their lead despite losing Barkley early in the game. Backup running backs like Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley have stepped up, contributing significantly to the ground game.
The Dallas Cowboys, meanwhile, have made some improvements to their defense, particularly in their recent loss to the Green Bay Packers. However, Barkley has historically performed well against the Cowboys, averaging 4.64 yards per carry in his 14 career games against them. This could give the Eagles an advantage in their upcoming matchup.
While the Eagles are still without quarterback Jalen Hurts, who is expected to miss the remainder of the season due to blood clots in his lungs, and wide receiver DeVonta Smith, who has been ruled out with a hamstring injury, the return of Barkley could provide a much-needed boost to the team's morale and performance. The Eagles are scheduled to play the Cowboys on Monday night, and all signs are pointing towards Barkley making his official return in Week 7.
The Eagles' decision to trade Barkley remains a topic of speculation. With nearly half of the active roster injured, the team may need to consider trade options to bolster their roster. However, the potential return of Barkley could provide the team with a much-needed boost, both on the field and in the locker room.
What this adds
The Eagles' running game has evolved in Barkley's absence, with backups like Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley contributing significantly.
The Cowboys have made some defensive improvements, but Barkley's historical performance against them could give the Eagles an advantage.
What's confirmed
- Cowboys Week 7 game information - BGN The Philadelphia Eagles are now 2-4 heading into their Week 7 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football, and both NFC East teams desperately need a win.
What's still developing
- Plus, Harbaugh himself said this week that it would be “great” to be in a “Saquon Barkley circumstance” where the Giants had a clear-cut No. 1 ballcarrier.
- It might not be the same as when Jalen Hurts greets the team out of the tunnel, but they are getting some guys back, including Saquon Barkley. ’Other’ potentially outgoing Eagles players who make sense as trade bait - PhillyVoice RG Tyler Steen (26).
- For multiple years of control of the Eagles’ star running back, they may have to part with their own top running back asset in addition to meaningful draft capital.
- Steen is scheduled to be a free agent next offseason, and the Eagles may not be willing to afford what he could be paid on the open market.
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- A return to New York makes plenty of sense for Barkley, but it would likely cost the Giants a premium to pull it off, given the intra-division nature of the trade.
- The Eagles ran the ball with Dameon Pierce just 12 times last week against the Carolina Panthers, netting 35 yards and a touchdown.
- After such a start, the Packers won seven of their last 10 games to clinch the NFC’s last playoff spot.
- When he’s played, Porter has given up just one reception on the five targets he’s faced in 43 coverage snaps, according to NFL Plus statistics.
- The upside that Barkley offers is enormous, but if he is ruled out prior to the game there are few legitimate alternatives to plug in for him.
- DeVonta Smith (hamstring) and Dontayvion Wicks (ankle) are trending toward not being available.
- At the outset of the week, I could talk myself into the possibility that the Eagles offense would improve with the return of Barkley and with McKee earning his second consecutive start coming off a full week of preparation.