Eagles RB Barkley stays put despite slump
The running back ruled out a trade, citing a desire to help the franchise return to title contention.
By Bianca Herrera ·
The Philadelphia Eagles are entering a critical period with a 2-6 record, and running back Saquon Barkley has stated his preference to remain with the team.
The squad dropped a 27-10 decision on Sunday at Washington, marking their sixth consecutive defeat. This streak is the first for the franchise since 2012. The team also started the year 2-6, a record not seen since the 1999 season under head coach Andy Reid. The Eagles have scored only 15 points per game on average this season. They have also managed just 270.3 yards per game in the three starts by backup quarterback Tanner McKee. In the latest loss, Barkley carried the ball 13 times for 30 yards. His longest run covered five yards. Kicker Jake Elliott missed a 41-yard field goal. Cornerback Quinyon Mitchell allowed a 53-yard reception to Treylon Burks.
Barkley told reporters he wants to stay in Philadelphia rather than be traded before the Nov. 10 deadline. He said he wants to help the team become a contender again. "We're not the big, bad Eagles anymore, I guess, right?" Barkley said. "We've got to understand that." Head coach Nick Sirianni said the players are giving their best effort. "I know nobody feels sorry for us," Sirianni said. "So it’s our job to go and do everything we can do to fix it, so we don’t have this feeling for the last six games."
Owner Jeffrey Lurie has a history of changing leadership when performance drops. He fired Andy Reid in 2012 after a losing season. He dismissed Chip Kelly in 2015 despite two previous 10-win years. He let Doug Pederson go after the 2020 campaign. Sirianni faces similar pressure. Offensive coordinator Sean Mannion is also under scrutiny. Sirianni said he is not thinking about personnel changes yet. "I’ll keep it at that," Sirianni said. Offensive lineman Jordan Mailata noted the impact of offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland leaving the team. "You can't win games by not being able to be efficient in the run game, not being able to protect the QB," Mailata said. Safety Michael Carter suffered an abdominal injury during the week.
Only three teams in NFL history have started a season 2-6 and reached the playoffs. The 1970 Cincinnati Bengals finished 8-6 and lost their first playoff game. The 2020 Washington Football Team finished 7-9 and lost its playoff game. The 2022 Jacksonville Jaguars finished 9-8 and won one playoff game before losing to Kansas City. The Eagles host the New York Giants on Sunday. The Giants hold a 4-2-1 record and are positioned to win the NFC East.
