PHILADELPHIA − The Eagles could have running back Saquon Barkley at practice this week after he missed most of four games this season with various injuries, including the last two games with a hamstring injury.
Barkley suffered the injury in the first quarter against the Los Angeles Rams on Oct. 4. He sat out the rest of that game, then the next two games against Jacksonville and Carolina. The Eagles face the Dallas Cowboys on Oct. 26.
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni wouldn't say if Barkley will be available against the Cowboys, but he did make it seem like Barkley will participate as the Eagles begin their practice week on Oct. 22.
Buy Philadelphia Eagles tickets
"Saquon's a phenomenal football player, phenomenal leader, captain," Sirianni said. "So anytime you have an opportunity to get someone like him back out on the field, that's huge. We'll see where we are as the week progresses. "Looking forward to seeing him out there (Oct. 22). "We'll see where we are at the end of it."
Barkley also left the game against the Tennessee Titans on Sept. 20 after the first offensive play because of a stinger. Barkley returned in the third quarter, then left for good in the fourth.
For the season, Barkley has 182 yards rushing while averaging 5.1 yards per carry. In the two full games that Barkley played in, he had 83 yards in the season-opener against the Commanders on Sept. 13 (5.5 yards per carry), and 82 yards against the Bears on Sept. 28 (also 5.5 yards per carry).
Sirianni said Barkley's return will boost the Eagles' running game, which ranks 29th in the NFL. The Eagles have especially struggled when quarterbacks Jalen Hurts and Tanner McKee have lined up under center and tried play-action passes.
The opposing defenses, not respecting the running game, have often blitzed in those situations.
"Your play-action pass game gets better and better as you run the football better, right?" Sirianni said. "And so, we have to play not only complementary football on offense, defense, and special teams, but also within the offense. For your play-action game to create the plays that you want it to create, your run game's got to be going.
"But anytime you add a player of Saquon's caliber to your team, that's obviously a huge plus."
As for other injured players, it's not known yet if edge rushers Jalyx Hunt (knee/ankle), Nolan Smith (concussion) or Jonathan Greenard (ankle) can practice. And left guard Landon Dickerson (knee) is beginning his second week of the 21-day practice window as he works to return from injured reserve.
In addition C Drew Kendall (knee) is expected to continue practicing this week after missing the previous two games with a knee injury. Kendall was on the game-day roster against the Panthers, but would have only played in an emergency situation as Jake Majors started for the second straight game.
Nick Sirianni fined $250,000 for behavior towards referees
Sirianni was fined $250,000 for conduct toward NFL game officials, according to a report from Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer.
Sirianni was reportedly one of three head coaches fined $250K for their conduct. The others are Patriots coach Mike Vrabel and Jets coach Aaron Glenn. According to Breer's report, the fines are reportedly on hold and "could be repealed with good behavior."
Sirianni has had run-ins with referees and fans over the years, and is known for being fiery on the sidelines at times. It's not known if a specific incident occurred this season to incur the fine.
"I won't get into my conversations with the league," Sirianni said when asked about the fine. "I truly believe that I've been in constant growth of maturity of in every phase."
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on X @Mfranknfl. Sign up for the "Eye On The Eagles" newsletter, emailed to your inbox every Friday morning. Read his coverage of the Eagles’ championship season in “Flying High,” a hardcover coffee-table book from Delaware Online/The News Journal. Details at Fly.ChampsBook.com
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Is Saquon Barkley back from injury vs Cowboys? Latest from Eagles coach
Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.