Eagles' Saquon Barkley hobbled but efficient in loss to Cowboys - ESPN

PHILADELPHIA — Eagles running back Saquon Barkley said his «hamstring came out great» and doesn't believe his back issue will keep him out after a gutsy and highly efficient performance in Philadelphia's 38-21 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night.

Barkley was questionable entering the game because of a hamstring injury that sidelined him the previous two weeks. The Eagles tried to limit his carries, and that number dropped further when his back locked up as the game progressed.

He played a total of nine snaps and touched the ball every time he was on the field, finishing with seven carries for 62 yards and a touchdown, and two receptions for 9 yards.

Barkley is the first NFL starter in the past 20 seasons to play at least nine offensive snaps in a game and get a touch on all of them.

«When you go into something like that, you make sure the player's health is first and foremost,» Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said. «Do they feel ready to go? Do the doctors and trainers feel like he's ready to go? And we felt like that was the case today. But obviously wanted to keep a close eye on him.

»He's tough as heck. He wanted to be out there for his teammates, probably had to slow him up. He'd be out there every play because of the person he is and the teammate he is and the toughness that he has."

Barkley was clearly managing the injuries throughout the game. He spent some time in the medical tent, and at one point, he stretched with trainers on the bench. Immediately following his 8-yard touchdown run on the first offensive possession, Barkley quickly made his way off the field and to the exercise bike on the sideline.

He tweaked his back on a 29-yard run in the first quarter and it got progressively worse from there, he said.