Injuries have plagued the Philadelphia Eagles this season, but there is a chance they could get their star running back, Saquon Barkley, back on the field.
Barkley missed the last two games after suffering a hamstring injury on the second drive of the Week 4 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Since then, he has been sidelined, watching his team lose both games he missed.
Entering Week 7, optimism has grown that Barkley could return to the field for Philly in their Monday Night Football showdown with the Dallas Cowboys. Here is everything Eagles fans need to know about Barkley's injury before the week's final matchup.
Latest updates throughout the week on Saquon Barkley before Eagles-Cowboys game
There has been some mystery about whether Barkley will return to the field for the Eagles. Philly left breadcrumbs for the Eagles fan base with small moves they made earlier in the week.
First, they placed Carson Steele on IR after he suffered a shoulder injury in the Week 6 loss to the Carolina Panthers. Philly then released Jaydon Blue and Ian Wheeler (Blue would eventually return to the practice squad). The Eagles also signed Elijah Mitchell to the practice squad, but creating that kind of room at running back on the active roster was the first sign Barkley could return in Week 7.
Then, NFL insider Mike Garafolo reported that Barkley was slated to practice during the week and was in line to start against the Cowboys. In all three Eagles practices, Barkley participated in a limited role.
The final injury report listed Barkley as questionable with a hamstring injury. That didn't help much with the questions about his status, but it suggests he will likely return for the Cowboys game.
The impact of Saquon Barkley potentially returning for Eagles in Week 7
This season, Barkley has rushed for 182 yards on 36 carries and caught four passes for eight yards. He is averaging 5.1 yards per carry, one yard more than last season.
Philly has struggled mightily on the ground in the last two games Barkley has missed. The Eagles have rushed for a combined 57 yards on 31 carries, averaging a whopping 1.8 yards per carry.
Dameon Pierce has carried the ball 23 times over those two matchups. The Eagles have had back-to-back weeks where running backs have gone on IR after those games: Will Shipley and Steele.
The Eagles desperately need depth at running back, and Barkley's potential return couldn't have come at a better time. The Eagles won't have their top two wide receivers, DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks, leaving Barkley as the team's main workhorse.
It helps that the Cowboys have been terrible at running the football, allowing the second-most rushing yards per game this season, with 149.8. With Landon Dickerson potentially returning from his knee injury, the Eagles might have an opening to run the ball more effectively, and Barkley could be the catalyst.
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All signs point to a Barkley return to the field, but Eagles fans will have to see what their inactive list looks like before the game. If he returns, Philly might have a shot at an upset against a 2-4 Cowboys team, the same record as the Eagles.
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