Barkley didn't end up playing in Friday's preseason win over the Ravens. Reporting earlier in the day suggested that the Eagles would give their offensive starters, including Barkley, one series in the team's preseason opener, but that proved not to be the case. Instead, Kenneth Gainwell got the start in the backfield, while Kendall Milton wound up leading the team in carries and rushing yards and Lew Nichols scored Philly's only rushing touchdown in the third quarter. Barkley could instead see some preseason action Thursday against the Patriots.
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Status
ACTIVELatest Saquon Barkley news
Team
Philadelphia Eagles
Birthdate
2/9/1997 (27)
Status
Active
HT/WT
6'0", 233 lbs
Draft Info
2018: Rd 1; Pk (NYG)
Birthplace
Bronx, NY, USA
Position
RB
College
Penn State
Experience
7 seasons
Career History
New York Giants
2018-2024
(6 seasons)
Barkley didn't end up playing in Friday's preseason win over the Ravens. Reporting earlier in the day suggested that the Eagles would give their offensive starters, including Barkley, one series in the team's preseason opener, but that proved not to be the case. Instead, Kenneth Gainwell got the start in the backfield, while Kendall Milton wound up leading the team in carries and rushing yards and Lew Nichols scored Philly's only rushing touchdown in the third quarter. Barkley could instead see some preseason action Thursday against the Patriots.
Barkley is in uniform ahead of Friday's preseason game at Baltimore, Bob Brookover of The Newark Star-Ledger reports. With quarterback Jalen Hurts expected to log a possession in the Eagles' exhibition opener, it comes as no surprise that the team's biggest offseason addition within the skill positions also will be available. Once Barkley and the rest of the starters hit the sideline Friday, Kenneth Gainwell, Will Shipley, Lew Nichols, Tyrion Davis-Price and Kendall Milton will handle backfield duties for Philadelphia.
Barkley and the Eagles have reached agreement on a three-year, $37.75 million contract that could be worth up to $46.75 million and includes $26 million fully guaranteed at signing, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. While the dollar amounts in initial contract reports are suspect, Schefter was specific about all the key details on this one. The Eagles have upgraded their offense by swapping out D'Andre Swift (Bears) for Barkley, who figures to have the best offensive line of his career after spending six years with the division-rival Giants. QB Jalen Hurts' proficiency as both a scrambler and short-yardage runner takes away some of the receiving and TD production that might otherwise go to a running back, but the Eagles will surely make Barkley a priority after signing him to a large contract, and at the very least it should be a good situation for piling up rushing yards.
The Eagles and Texans are interested in signing Barkley, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports. While numerous other teams presumably have some level of interest, it sounds like Houston and Philadelphia are among the more serious candidates at the start of the free-agent negotiating period Monday afternoon. Barkley is widely viewed as the best RB among a strong group of free agents at the position, though it seems D'Andre Swift (Bears) and Tony Pollard (Titans) are ahead of him when it comes to reaching verbal agreements with suitors. Barkley figures to come out ahead of them financially, of course.
The Giants don't intend to use the franchise tag on Barkley ahead of Tuesday's deadline, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and ESPN's Adam Schefter report. Tagging the running back for a second straight year would have put the Giants on the hook for a $12.1 million salary in 2024. Barkley, who turned 27 last month, will become a free agent in the coming days as a result. In his sixth campaign with the team that selected him second overall in the 2018 NFL Draft, Barkley carried the ball 247 times for 962 yards and six TDs to go along with 41 catches on 60 targets for 280 yards and four receiving scores over 14 contests in 2023.
The Giants will discuss a new contract with Barkley but aren't expected to use their franchise tag on him, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. Schefter reports that there are no teams planning to use tags on RBs, including the three -- Giants (Barkley), Raiders (Josh Jacobs), Cowboys (Tony Pollard) -- that did so last offseason. In addition to those three, the 2024 free agent class includes six other RBs that got at least 200 touches this past season (Derrick Henry, Austin Ekeler, D'Andre Swift, Devin Singletary, Ezekiel Elliott and Gus Edwards). Some of those players may re-sign with their current teams before the start of the new league year, but most figure to hit the open market. It would cost the Giants about $12.1 million to tag Barkley for a second straight year.
Barkley finished with a season low in rushing yards, as he was bottled up after producing runs of 14 and 19 yards in the first quarter. The star running back is usually the focal point of the Giants' offense, and Barkley has at least 12 carries and three targets in all nine games he's played this season. After a Week 13 bye, Barkley will need 135 scrimmage yards in Week 14 against the Packers to reach 1,000 for the fourth time in six NFL seasons.
Barkley opened the scoring with a 24-yard receiving touchdown, on which he showed off his downfield pass catching ability by securing a back shoulder throw and keeping his feet from going out of bounds. He added a five-yard receiving score in the fourth quarter to give the Giants a 21-12 lead. Barkley's second touchdown came four plays after he broke free for a season-long 36-yard run, and he added a 31-yard run on New York's next drive. Despite rushing for minus-2 yards in the first half, Barkley finished with 77-plus yards for the fifth time in his last six appearances. He should remain the focal point of a Giants offense quarterbacked by Tommy DeVito in Week 12 against the 2-8 Patriots.
Barkley maintained his activity level from one day prior, which seemingly is the result of the running back tweaking his previously sprained right ankle in the late moments of this past Sunday's defeat in Dallas. He's been the sole bright spot in an offense lacking on much firepower, especially with undrafted rookie Tommy DeVito (shoulder) at quarterback. Over his last five games, Barkley has racked up 124 touches for 518 yards from scrimmage and one receiving TD. Friday's injury report will reveal whether or not he enters the weekend with an injury designation for Sunday's contest at Washington.