Saquon Barkley will not play in the Philadelphia Eagles’ regular-season finale against the New York Giants. Coach Nick Sirianni confirmed this decision during Wednesday’s press conference, as reported by EJ Smith of The Philadelphia Inquirer.
The Eagles secured NFC’s No. 2 seed with a 13-3 record, facing a meaningless Week 18 matchup. This scenario has prompted Sirianni to prioritize playoff preparation over individual achievements.
Barkley‘s 2024 season has already placed him in elite company. His 167-yard performance against Dallas made him just the ninth player in NFL history to rush for 2,000-plus yards in a season.
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“It’s a very special record that’s been standing for a very long time by a great player… But you try to do what’s best for the team. When the bye was, how goes are feeling… Our goals are to have success and play good the next game we play,” Sirianni said.
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The Eagles’ locker room showed mixed reactions to this strategic move. Right tackle Lane Johnson backed the decision as “better to be safe than sorry.” Left tackle Jordan Mailata hoped to “push for” the starters to play against New York.
Team goals trump Saquon Barkley’s record chase
Saquon Barkley stands just 101 yards shy of Eric Dickerson’s 1984 record of 2,105 rushing yards. His current average of 125.3 rushing yards per game ranks as the highest in the 17-game era and the best since Derrick Henry‘s 126.7 in 2020.
The star running back has maintained a team-first attitude throughout the record chase.
“Whatever his decision is, I’m all for it,” Barkley said on Dec 30. “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.”
The Eagles will focus on their playoff journey, hosting the No. 7 seed during Wild Card weekend. A victory would grant them another home game in the divisional round.
The Eagles’ calculated choice positions them for a strong postseason push, even as it ends Barkley’s shot at NFL rushing history. Their next competitive snap will come in the playoffs, where they’ll chase a different kind of history – another Super Bowl banner.
Edited by Krutik Jain
