Philadelphia Eagles: Saquon Barkley limited in practice before Cowboys
The Philadelphia Eagles listed running back Saquon Barkley as a limited participant in Friday’s practice as the team closed in on Monday night’s NFC East matchup, the club reported on Oct. 23, 2026. Barkley missed the past two games with a hamstring issue but practiced Thursday for the first time since the injury and told reporters he hoped to be available Monday. The team will hold a final practice Saturday before the game.
Several key offensive players did not take part in practice, including tight end Dallas Goedert (knee) and wide receivers DeVonta Smith (hamstring) and Dontayvion Wicks (ankle), according to the Eagles’ injury report. Barkley’s potential return comes as the offense seeks reinforcements after those absences. Head coach Nick Sirianni noted the importance of the run game to the team’s play-action passing attack, and the team views adding a back of Barkley’s caliber as a significant possibility.
On defense, outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard was downgraded and did not practice Friday while Nolan Smith remains in the concussion protocol. The Eagles had multiple outside linebackers limited Friday, with A.J. Epenesa listed with a back issue and Jalyx Hunt limited by knee and ankle concerns. Center Drew Kendall was a full participant after missing Week 5 with a knee injury and being active but not used last Sunday.
The Eagles’ report also listed a broader set of participants: Landon Dickerson was limited with knee and pectoral issues, and several offensive linemen and defensive players were either limited or full participants on Friday. The injury report noted players who did not participate, those limited and those who practiced fully, with changes from Thursday marked by the team. The Cowboys’ injury report included upgrades for cornerback Cobie Durant and linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, and noted KaVontae Turpin remains unavailable with rib injuries.
NFL Sports Blog Take
Saquon Barkley practicing at a limited level is a meaningful development for the Philadelphia Eagles because the Dallas defense enters the week allowing nearly 150 rushing yards per game, the few specific defensive statistics available in the team report. With Dallas Goedert, DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks absent from practice, the Eagles’ passing options could be constrained, making a healthier run game more important to sustain drives and set up play action. Defensive depth will be tested as Jonathan Greenard did not practice and Nolan Smith is in concussion protocol, so availability decisions over the weekend will influence lineup choices and game-plan emphasis. Expect the Eagles to emphasize clarity on Barkley’s status after Saturday’s practice, while monitoring the health of multiple linemen and linebackers that factor into both run blocking and pass rush plans.