The Philadelphia Eagles got some good news for a change on Thursday with the return of Saquon Barkley to practice.
The running back has been out since suffering a hamstring injury during the first quarter in Week 4 against the Los Angeles Rams. If all goes well the rest of this week, Barkley is line to play when the Eagles host the Dallas Cowboys on "Monday Night Football."
"Anytime you have an opportunity to get someone like him back on the field, that's huge," said Eagles coach Nick Sirianni before practice. "We'll see where we are as the week progresses, but we're looking forward to seeing him out there today."
The Eagles have been ravaged by injuries of late with fellow running backs Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley out, plus Jalen Hurts being done for the rest of the season due to a blood clot. Wide receiver DeVonta Smith missed two games with a hamstring injury, but returned to play on Sunday.
Shipley and Dameon Pierce have filled in at running back in Barkley's absence. Shipley was injured in the Eagles' London loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars and was placed on injured reserve with a foot injury. A week earlier, Bigsby went on IR after he required core muscle surgery.
The Eagles' banged up backfield and decimated offensive line has resulted in the team averaging just 82.2 rushing yards per game, good for 29th in the NFL.
Both games Barkley missed resulted in defeats with the Eagles currently on a four-game losing streak. They are 2-4 with three NFC East division matchups coming up over the next three weeks against the Cowboys, Washington Commanders and New York Giants before going on their bye.
Heading into Week 7, Philadelphia is tied for second in the NFC East with the Cowboys.