Philadelphia Eagles’ starting running back Saquon Barkley was pulled from Tuesday’s training camp practice due to concerns over a possible injury. According to NBC Sports’ John Clark, Barkley left practice early to have his lower back and leg examined and treated by the trainers. He did not return for the final portion of practice, which included 11-on-11 drills.
While this may turn out to be nothing serious, it serves as a reminder of the injury risks the Eagles assumed when signing Barkley to a substantial contract during NFL free agency. Barkley has a history of injuries, having torn his ACL in 2020 and sprained his ankle in both 2021 and 2023. However, he was fully healthy in 2022, rushing for a career-high 1,312 yards—a level of performance that both Barkley and the Eagles hope to see again in 2024.
Barkley himself has high aspirations, recently telling reporters, “I want to be the best of all time. Not trying to sound cocky or anything like that, but the tape speaks for itself. I’m just trying to elevate on that. Trying to expand on my game. I feel like I’ve done a lot of great things in this league, even with battling through injuries, I felt like I made a name for myself, and I feel like in this offense and with the guys I have around me, I’m going to continue to be able to do that.”
Saquon Barkley came out and is getting looked at by the trainers. Getting rubbed on his lower back.
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) August 20, 2024
If Barkley can remain healthy, he is well-positioned for success in Philadelphia, where the offensive line is far more reliable than what he experienced with the New York Giants. This improved support could help him achieve new career highs. However, his ability to stay injury-free will be crucial.
The positive news is that the Eagles still have about three weeks before their Week 1 season opener in Brazil against the Green Bay Packers, giving Barkley time to recover and prepare.
