Rewriting history and the record books is always a hugely impressive deal. But to break a record that has stood for nearly 40 years is a borderline impossible task.
That is the mark that Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley can break as he inches ever closer to the rushing-yards record set by Eric Dickerson way back in 1984.
Yet, according to the latest reports, it’s unlikely that Barkley even suits up for the final game of the season, despite the record being in touching distance.
Saquon Barkley To Miss Week 18 Latest Reports Suggest
As Week 17 rolled around and the Eagles were ready to engage in a divisional matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, the record felt pretty unachievable. With nearly 270 yards standing between the two, it would require a Herculean effort from the superstar RB.
But with both teams missing their starting quarterbacks (Dak Prescott went down with a hamstring tear earlier in the year, and Jalen Hurts was out with a concussion suffered last week), a lot of the focus for Philadelphia’s offense fell on Barkley.
As a result, a monster game was expected.
But no one expected him to finish with 167 yards on 31 carries, standing exactly 101 yards away from Dickerson’s record of old. Now, with a season average of 125 yards for Barkley, the number feels far too likely.
However, even with a historic milestone in sight, it’s unlikely that Barkley will be on the field in Week 18.
Schefter: "I'd be floored" if Saquon Barkley plays Week 18.
Barkley is exactly 101 yards away from breaking the record; the Eagles are locked into the No. 2 seed.
— Underdog NFL (@Underdog__NFL) December 30, 2024
That is the latest coming out from trusted NFL Senior Insider Adam Schefter.
“I’d be floored if Saquon Barkley plays Week 18” was the official verdict coming from Schefty, who believes postseason success will be the No. 1 priority for the running back.
With Philadelphia’s offense already under scrutiny, and Hurts’ injury putting it in further disarray, the need for Barkley is paramount. And with the No. 2 seed locked up, the Week 18 game is going to be relatively inconsequential for the Eagles.
As a result, the focus for Barkley and the Eagles is clearly on Wild Card Weekend. Any potential injury in Week 18 for a position as demanding as running back isn’t out of the question, and the team would like to err on the side of caution.
While the record might go unbroken another year, it doesn’t take away from the mind-boggling year that Barkley has had, including a 255-yard game in Week 12 against the Los Angeles Rams. An MVP candidate, in a league dominated by quarterbacks, is already an unbelievable accomplishment in his first season with the Eagles.
