Saquon Barkley's Ankle 'Tweak' Should Worry Eagles

Philadelphia Eagles received an unsettling update on Thursday as their star running back Saquon Barkley seemingly tweaked his left foot or ankle during practice, according to Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. The cleat of Barkley's shoe came off while he was being assessed by trainers, and the shoe remained on his foot throughout the incident as he continued to play.

While there is hope that this is a minor issue and Barkley will return to action soon, it does present some troubling concerns for the Eagles ahead of the 2026 season. Barkley's ninth NFL season would see him turn 30 in the week leading up to the Super Bowl. In professional football, age 30 is often viewed as the point at which running backs begin to decline in effectiveness and health.

StatMuse lists only seven running backs currently playing over 30 years old, with only one of them—San Francisco 49ers' Kyle Juszczyk—being a primary ball carrier. Derrick Henry of the Baltimore Ravens is the only other player consistently producing as a top rusher after turning 30. Despite having avoided serious injuries in his career, save for a torn ACL in 2020, Barkley has been utilized more frequently in Philadelphia compared to his time in New York.

In 2024, he rushed for 2,005 yards on 345 carries, and in 2025, he recorded 1,140 yards on 280 carries. Although he has broken off impressive runs while enduring drills with his defensive teammates, this recent ankle or foot issue raises questions about his aging status and injury history.