The Eagles, given their 2-5 record, might end up trading players ahead of the trade deadline, but Saquon Barkley won’t be one of them.
Philadelphia doesn’t plan to move the star running back — and former Giant — before Nov. 10, according to ESPN, even with its season spiraling amid injuries to quarterback Jalen Hurts and others.
That, then, leaves the Colts’ Jonathan Taylor as the top running back available with the week-plus remaining for the deadline, with Indianapolis reportedly engaging in talks to move the four-time 1,000-yard rusher after already trading Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner last week.
Barkley has two years and around $35 million remaining on his deal, and the Eagles — who won the Super Bowl in 2024 during Barkley’s first season with the organization — still view themselves as being able to contend in the future, according to the outlet.
But even with the optimistic view about being able to win again with some of the core that anchored their Super Bowl run two years ago, this year has started to spiral into a lost year for them, though.
Barkley, who planned to play through both back and hamstring injuries Sunday night against the Commanders, has been limited to just five games, 244 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown — less than two seasons removed from when he erupted for 2,005 yards and finished 100 shy of Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record.
“One day I’m not going to be playing football,” Barkley told reporters Friday, when asked about playing through his injuries. “Whenever that is, I don’t want to look back and be like, ‘I could’ve gave it a chance and I didn’t.’ I like playing football. So if I have an opportunity to play, I’m going to try my best to play.”
Hurts will also miss the remainder of the season after doctors found multiple blood clots on his lungs, while top wide receiver DeVonta Smith has been limited to four games — and will miss another Sunday — with his hamstring injury.
The Eagles have lost five consecutive games entering their game against the Commanders, and they’ll host the Giants in Week 9 before their bye the following week.
