The Philadelphia Eagles will turn down the chance to break Saquon Barkley in the NFL’s lone season rushing record.
Head coach Nick Sirianni told reporters on Wednesday that the team will rest several key players in their season finale against the New York Giants – Barkley’s former team. The Eagles are already in second place in the upcoming NFC playoffs and have nothing to gain from a win.
Barkley, with 2,005 rushing yards this year, is 100 shy of Eric Dickerson’s record for most rushing yards in a single season. But the team will choose to avoid the risk of injuries instead of going for the milestone.
Sirianni said he talked to Barkley about his decision in his first season with the Eagles after six years with the Giants.
“I think it’s pretty clear how special this guy is,” Sirianni said.
Sirianni had said he planned to talk to everyone, including players, coaches, general manager Howie Roseman and owner Jeffrey Lurie, before making his decision.
The Eagles had their bye week in Week 5, bouncing back from a 2-2 start to win 10 straight games and take control of the division. But 12 straight games — in which Barkley added to his NFL-high 345 carries — also played a role in Sirianni giving the starters a week off before the Eagles opened the playoffs at home.
“It wasn’t the easiest decision,” Sirianni said. “We have great people in this building and have had a lot of input from a lot of different people, including players.”
Barkley has also said he would prioritize the team’s success over breaking the record.
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Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, 26, walks back to the bench during the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Landover, Maryland. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
“I came here to do something special, and obviously breaking the record is special,” Barkley said after the Eagles clinched the division. “But I want a banner there. I think we all do. But we gave ourselves a chance with that and made the play-offs before and now with the division.”
Barkley should have plenty of company in the starting lineup against the Giants. Hurts was still in the NFL’s concussion protocol Wednesday and could not practice or play until he was cleared.
Kenny Pickett started for the Eagles last week and ran and threw for a touchdown before leaving with injured ribs. Tanner McKee, the third-string QB, threw a pair of touchdown passes as he put the finishing touches on a rout of the Cowboys.
“In the end, I had to decide what I thought was best,” Sirianni said.
After he ran for 167 yards in Sunday’s win against Dallas, the 27-year-old Barkley said he wanted the record but would do what was best for the team, even if it meant sitting out the final game of the regular season.
“Rest, that’s fine with me too, because I didn’t come here to sign here just to get to 2,000 or break a record,” Barkley said Sunday. “I want to do something special, mean something special to the team.”
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, 26, runs the ball against the Dallas Cowboys during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Barkley signed a three-year deal with the Eagles for $26 million guaranteed and $37.75 million total, making him the highest-paid running back in franchise history.
The decision also ends the hand-wringing over Barkley allegedly setting the record in an additional 17th game that Dickerson didn’t have in 1984.
In 1984, Dickerson topped the 100-yard mark twelve times, breaking OJ Simpson’s 1973 record with Buffalo of 2,003 yards in a single season. Dickerson needed 379 carries to set the record, while Barkley had 345 carries this season.
Meanwhile, the Giants will enter Sunday’s game with even less to play for than the Eagles, but with far more to lose in terms of draft positioning with a win.
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Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs with the ball against the Carolina Panthers during the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. (Bill Streicher-Imagn images)
The Giants held the worst record in the NFL and the No. 1 overall pick ahead of last week’s game against the Indianapolis Colts. But with a 45-33 win at home over Indianapolis, the Giants have fallen to fourth place in the overall standings.
A win over the Eagles’ backups would drop the Giants even further down the draft order, as they could fall as low as No. 9 overall.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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