Barkley (hamstring) not present as practice begins

Sirianni was asked about both Barkley and DeVonta Smith, who is also dealing with a hamstring injury. Sirianni didn’t commit to either player practicing this week, but we’ll see how things look on Wednesday when the Eagles release their first injury report. Philly suddenly finds itself in desperate need of help at running back after Tank Bigsby (core) was placed on IR last week and Will Shipley (foot) was diagnosed with a partial tear in his plantar fascia that’s expected to sideline him for several weeks. If Barkley is unable to play in Week 6, Dameon Pierce and Jaydon Blue would be next in line to lead the Eagles’ banged up backfield.

With Barkley ruled out and Tank Bigsby (core) on injured reserve, the Eagles will officially go with Will Shipley and Dameon Pierce as their top two backs. Shipley feels like a safe bet to serve as the team’s primary pass-catching back, but whether or not he sees the majority of rush attempts is to be determined. It wouldn’t be surprising if Pierce, who profiles as more of an early-down grinder than Shipley, leads the Eagles’ backfield in carries this week, but fantasy managers shouldn’t rush to add him to their lineups. Shipley will likely fall somewhere in the RB2 rankings this week, while Pierce is nothing more than a stash at the end of fantasy benches.

Barkley will likely be listed as a non-participant on today’s official injury report. He is unlikely to play in Week 5 against the Jaguars. Aside from Barkley, the Eagles have RBs Will Shipley and Dameon Pierce on the active roster. Shipley will probably lead the backfield in touches this week, but it could be a messy workload split.

The Eagles will drop their official injury report later today, but this can be chalked up as a DNP for Barkley. He was already considered week-to-week after suffering a hamstring injury on Sunday, so today’s DNP doesn’t come as a surprise. He is a long-shot to play in Week 5. With Tank Bigsby on IR, Will Shipley will lead the backfield versus Jacksonville. He profiles as a low-end RB3.

Barkley departed the team’s Week 4 loss to the Rams in the second quarter and did not return, with Ian Rapoport relaying that the team views him as “week-to-week,” for the time being. Rapoport added that the team does not view the injury as a long-term issue. Regardless, Barkley appears set to miss multiple games with the soft tissue injury, leaving the team paper thin at running back after backup Tank Bigsby inured a core muscle that requires surgery. Will Shipley is the only other back currently on the active roster, while Dameon Pierce, Carson Steele, and Jaydon Blue are with the team on the practice squad. Shipley warrants a waiver addition while managers in deeper leagues can consider taking an early flier on Blue.

Rapoport reports there are hopes that Bigsby will be back “in six weeks or shorter.” The 24-year-old back will be required to miss at least four games now that he’s headed for an IR stint. With Saquon Barkley (hamstring) also at risk of missing at least one game, third-string RB Will Shipley could be in line for a busy day in Week 5 against the Jaguars. Shipley rushed six times for 23 yards in Sunday’s loss to the Rams, but could be a sneaky option in PPR leagues given his pass-catching profile during his days at Clemson, when he caught 85 passes over three seasons. It also wouldn’t be surprising if Dameon Pierce or Jaydon Blue were promoted off the practice squad and saw early down touches while Shipley serves in more of a third-down role. There’s a lot to figure out here over the next few days.

Barkley went down early in Sunday’s loss to the Rams and did not return to the game. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said earlier on Monday that Barkley’s injury “does not seem to be overly serious,” but with the Eagles taking on the Jaguars in London next week, it wouldn’t be surprising if he missed at least one game. Backup Tank Bigsby led the Eagles with 55 rushing yards on 14 carries and could be a viable RB2 if Barkley is out.

Barkley was injured on the Eagles’ second series and officially ruled out midway through the second quarter. He had only two carries for eight yards before departing. It has been mostly Tank Bigsby since, though Will Shipley has received a smattering of handles. Already banged up this season, Barkley is probably in real danger of missing Week 5 against the Jaguars in London.

Barkley pulled up on a strong run on the Eagles’ second series. He dropped the ball out of bounds and appeared to be in a heap of pain, hopping around on one leg before taking a knee. He spent some time in the tent before making his way slowly to the locker room. Barkley pulls up not infrequently, but this had the looks of an issue likely to end his afternoon. Tank Bigsby was the next man up, taking a huge third down loss. Will Shipley should mix in, as well, if Barkley’s afternoon is indeed through.

73 of Barkley’s 82 yards on the ground came before the half as the team was held to three consecutive three-and-outs after the break, capped off with an interception and turnover on downs on their five possessions to end the game. Offensive coordinator Sean Mannion’s offense remained predictable and uninventive on a night the Eagles held the football for just over 23 minutes while running only 47 offensive plays. Barkley also has exactly one reception in each of the team’s first three games of the season, effectively relegating him to a yardage-and-touchdown back in fantasy. It will be difficult for him to return value on his second-round draft capital on that profile. Consider Barkley an RB2 with a wider range of outcomes than we’ve grown accustomed to when the Eagles host the Rams in Week 4.