'He's tough as heck': Eagles' Barkley hobbled but efficient in loss to Cowboys

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  Tim McManusOct 27, 2026, 01:23 AM ET

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  Tim McManus covers the Philadelphia Eagles for ESPN. He joined ESPN in 2016 after covering the Eagles for Philadelphia Magazine's Birds 24/7, a site he helped create, since 2010.

PHILADELPHIA -- Eagles running back Saquon Barkley said his "hamstring came out great" and doesn't believe his back issue will keep him out moving forward following a gutty and highly-efficient performance in Philadelphia's 38-21 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night.

Barkley was questionable entering the game because of a hamstring injury that sidelined him the previous two weeks. The idea was to have him on a pitch count, and that number dropped further when his back locked up on him as the game went on.

He played a total of nine snaps and touched the ball every time he was on field, finishing with seven carries for 62 yards and a touchdown, and two receptions for 9 yards.

Barkley is the first starter in the past 20 seasons to play at least nine offensive snaps in a game and get a touch on all of them.

"When you go into something like that, you make sure the player's health is first and foremost," Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said. "Do they feel ready to go? Do the doctors and trainers feel like he's ready to go? And we felt like that was the case today. But obviously wanted to keep a close eye on him.

"He's tough as heck. He wanted to be out there for his teammates, probably had to slow him up -- he'd be out there every play because of the person he is and the teammate he is and the toughness that he has."

Barkley was clearly managing the injuries throughout the game. He spent some time in the medical tent and at one point got stretched out by trainers on the bench. Immediately following his 8-yard touchdown run on the first offensive possession, Barkley quickly made his way off the field and to the exercise bike on the sideline.

He tweaked his back on a 29-yard run in the first quarter and it got progressively worse from there, he said. His last snap of the game came in the third quarter.

Barkley said he didn't think the back issue would keep him out going forward but deferred to the training staff.

"It's kind of the school of thought I come from: 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. "I'm trying, it's just not responding the way I want it to respond right now. It sucks because I'm trying to be the best leader I can be and it's hard when you're not able to be out there and perform for your team."

The Eagles have gotten hit hard by injuries at the running back position. Will Shipley (foot), Tank Bigsby (abdomen) and Carson Steele (shoulder) are on injured reserve. Dameon Pierce exited in the fourth quarter with an undisclosed injury, leaving the running duties to Elijah Mitchell, who was brought up from the practice squad for the game.