Saquon Barkley Injury Update, Latest NFL Rumors on Eagles RB's Status for Cowboys Game

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley "is in line to play" against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 7, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo .

Garafolo reported the Eagles are expecting Barkley to practice Thursday.

The three-time Pro Bowler has been absent since Philly's 24-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Oct. 4.

The Eagles' running game has suffered greatly in his absence and that of Tank Bigsby, who's on injured reserve. The team combined to have 57 total rushing yards in the defeats to the Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars.

With quarterback Jalen Hurts likely to miss the remainder of the season, the offense needs to have a steady presence on the ground.

Starting in place of Hurts, Tanner McKee went 26-of-45 for 215 yards and a touchdown in Week 6. As backup quarterbacks go, Philadelphia could probably do worse, but there's a massive gulf in quality between Hurts and McKee.

Having Barkley in the backfield will take some pressure off McKee.

Whether he's enough to meaningfully alter the trajectory of the Eagles' season is another question. They're 2-4 and in the midst of a four-game losing streak. No team has been more snakebitten in terms of injuries.

The franchise will want to avoid a rebuild at all costs, but one or two more losses will make a playoff push extremely difficult.

With the stakes so high, Barkley's return couldn't be better timed.