News Article
Published
Oct 22, 2026 at 11:50 AM EDT
Help may be coming for an offense that has stalled without its best weapon.
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley is expected back on the practice field and on track to play the Dallas Cowboys in Week 7, according to NFL insider Mike Garafolo. He has sat out two straight games because of his hamstring.
Garafolo wrote the news on X.
“#Eagles RB Saquon Barkley is expected to return to practice today and is in line to play Monday against the #Cowboys, sources say. A lift for the team’s offense with a banged-up backfield and Jalen Hurts on the mend.”
Earlier roster moves pointed the same way. Running back Carson Steele joined Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley on injured reserve, landing there because of his shoulder.
Ian Wheeler was released, and Jaydon Blue was waived, while Elijah Mitchell returned as a practice-squad addition. Barkley and Dameon Pierce are now the lone running backs left on the main roster.
Without Barkley, the Eagles have produced 57 rushing yards over two games. They haven’t topped 20 points in any of their last three outings, scoring 31 total in the pair he missed.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts missed Week 6 with a superficial blood clot that developed after he took a cleat to the calf during Week 4. His lungs have since shown clots too, and he could be out for the year.
Tanner McKee has started in his place.
Barkley has 182 rushing yards on 5.1 yards per carry across the four appearances, and two of those ended almost as soon as they began.
His hamstring gave out two drives into a Week 4 defeat by the Los Angeles Rams.
Dallas could hardly offer a friendlier return assignment. The Cowboys own the NFL’s worst run defense, surrendering 149.8 rushing yards per game.