Saquon Barkley Exits Eagles’ Week 4 Game vs Rams With Hamstring Injury on Second Carry

Saquon Barkley entered Week 4 as the main piece of a Philadelphia Eagles running game that had leaned on him through the first three weeks of the season.

Philadelphia was already missing wide receiver DeVonta Smith and right tackle Lane Johnson against the Los Angeles Rams, leaving the offense with fewer proven options as it tried to handle another difficult matchup.

Saquon Barkley Leaves With Hamstring Injury

Barkley was injured on his second carry, a 6-yard run during the first quarter. He reached the sideline before slowing down and showing pain in the back of his right leg.

The Eagles sent Barkley into the medical tent for an initial examination. He then walked to the locker room. While Philadelphia initially listed him as questionable, the team officially ruled him out for the remainder of the game later in the second quarter.

Barkley did not return before halftime. He finished with two carries for 8 yards and one catch for 2 yards. The team did not immediately provide a timetable for his recovery.

The injury ended what had been a short afternoon for Philadelphia's leading running back. Barkley entered the game with 174 rushing yards on 34 carries, giving him an average of 5.1 yards per attempt.

He also caught three passes for 6 yards. Those numbers gave him 180 yards from scrimmage through three games and showed how important he remained to the Eagles' offense.

Philadelphia had other running backs available, but none offered Barkley's mix of speed, strength and experience. His exit forced the Eagles to change their approach while the game was still close.

Tank Bigsby Takes Over After Saquon Barkley's Exit

Tank Bigsby became the main running back after Barkley left. Philadelphia had listed Bigsby second on the depth chart, with Will Shipley available behind him.

Bigsby was asked to carry the ball, help in the passing game and keep the Rams from focusing only on quarterback Jalen Hurts. Shipley remained another choice if the Eagles needed fresh legs.

The situation became more difficult because Smith and Johnson were already unavailable. Smith missed the game with a hamstring injury, while Johnson was a late scratch due to personal reasons. Additionally, the shorthanded Eagles were missing several other critical starters, including tight end Dallas Goedert and linebacker Zack Baun.

Their absences had already taken away one of Philadelphia's best receivers and its starting right tackle. Barkley's injury then removed the player expected to lead the running game.

The Eagles could still turn to Bigsby and Shipley, but replacing Barkley was never going to be simple. Both backs had to take on bigger roles with little time to prepare.

Barkley's status will now be watched closely after the game. If he misses additional time, Philadelphia will immediately need its backup runners to carry a far heavier workload.