Saquon Barkley will not have the opportunity to chase down the NFL single-season rushing record this year. The Philadelphia Eagles’ star running back is set to be sidelined for the team’s Week 18 matchup against the New York Giants, as confirmed by head coach Nick Sirianni on Wednesday. With the Eagles securing the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs, it has been decided that Barkley, along with other key starters, will be rested for the final regular-season game.
Currently, Barkley has amassed an impressive 2,005 rushing yards this season, putting him just 101 yards shy of breaking the long-standing single-season record set by Eric Dickerson in 1984. The talented running back’s remarkable performance last week, where he rushed for 167 yards on 31 carries in a dominant victory over the Dallas Cowboys, solidified his position as one of only nine players in NFL history to surpass the 2,000-yard mark in a single season.
Acknowledging the significance of the record, Coach Sirianni emphasized the team-oriented approach in making the decision, stating, “Obviously it’s a very special record that’s been standing for a very long time by a great player. It’s a team record that everybody’s involved in. You weigh all those things. But at the end of the day, you just try to do what’s best for the team.” The coach had previously been noncommittal about Barkley’s participation in the final game, indicating that careful deliberation with team management and players would precede any decision.
Barkley, in his response to the situation, expressed his willingness to support whatever course of action the coach deemed appropriate, saying, “Whatever his decision is, I’m all for it. If his mindset is, we’ll go out there and try it, I’ll go out there and try it. If his mindset is, let’s rest and get ready for this run, I’m all for that, too. … I came here to do something special. Breaking a record is special, but I want a banner up there. I think we all do.”
Meanwhile, Eric Dickerson, the record holder, shared his sentiments on the matter, revealing his hope that Barkley would fall short of his record to maintain his place in NFL history. Dickerson emphasized the significance of holding onto records, stating, “These people who say, ‘records are meant to be broken,’ you ain’t got no record. You don’t have one. When you get those records, you want to hang on to them. No matter if it was in bowling and you had 30 strikes in a row, you don’t want nobody to break that.”
Barkley’s season has been nothing short of exceptional, setting personal and NFL bests with 2,005 rushing yards on 345 carries and 13 rushing touchdowns. The seasoned player has also contributed significantly in the passing game, registering 33 receptions for 278 receiving yards.
