Saquon Barkley Won't Be Traded by Eagles Before Deadline

Saquon Barkley is staying in Philadelphia. The Eagles will not trade their star running back before the Nov. 10 deadline, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport reported Sunday morning, shutting down weeks of chatter that a 2-5 team might sell him off.

That matters because the Eagles are in a spot nobody expected. They have lost five straight, Jalen Hurts is likely done for the season with blood clots, and general manager Howie Roseman has been checking the market for future draft picks. Barkley was the biggest name fans were nervous about.

Why Philly Is Keeping Him

Barkley is 29 and has two years and just over $35 million left on his deal. On paper, a struggling team with an expensive veteran back is a classic seller. But the Eagles believe they have enough talent to compete in 2027 and beyond, and they have told teams they are not considering a Barkley trade.

Roseman usually buys at the deadline, not sells, and there is still a chance Philly adds a player if the value is right and the fit is long term. For now, though, the message is simple. Saquon is part of the plan.

With Barkley off the board, Jonathan Taylor of the Colts is now the lone top-tier running back who could realistically move before the deadline.

He Is Playing Sunday Night, but Not 100%

Barkley is set to play Sunday night at Washington, a game with real stakes for both teams. The Eagles are 2-5, the Commanders are 1-4-1, and the loser lands in last place in the NFC East.

His health is the big question. Barkley played only about 10 snaps Monday against Dallas when his back flared up, which he said happened while compensating for a preexisting hamstring issue. He missed practice Wednesday and Thursday, got in a limited session Friday, and came off the injury report. He still is not fully healthy.

"One day I'm not going to be playing football. Whenever that is, I don't want to look back and be like, 'I could've gave it a chance and I didn't,'" Barkley said Friday. "I like playing football. So if I have an opportunity to play, I'm going to try my best to play."

This is shaping up as the first of his three seasons in Philadelphia without a playoff trip, which makes his decision to gut it out even more telling.

My Smacktok lean: go lower on Barkley's rushing attempts Sunday night. He missed two practices, was limited Friday and barely played Monday because of his back, so a capped workload makes more sense than a full bell cow night.