Saquon Barkley staying with Eagles past trade deadline

Eagles tell teams Barkley is not for sale

Saquon Barkley will not be traded before next week's trade deadline. Sources told NFL Network the Eagles have made that clear to other teams, even as Philadelphia sits at 2-5 and trends toward being out of playoff contention. The running back stays put, not on the trade block.

Barkley is 29 and has two years left on his contract, with about $35 million remaining. General manager Howie Roseman has had trade talks involving some Eagles players as he looks to acquire future draft-pick compensation. Roseman normally stays busy at the deadline in an adding role, but this year's 2-5 record and injuries to quarterback Jalen Hurts and others have given him a rare chance to deal from a selling position. Still, Roseman and the Eagles believe the roster has enough talent to compete in 2027 and beyond, which is why they have told teams Barkley is not available. There is still a chance Philadelphia adds a player before the deadline if the value is right and Roseman sees that player fitting the team's long-term plans. That's the kind of call that separates a front office that's rebuilding from one that's simply selling off parts. Philadelphia chose the first one.

Barkley's back injury ahead of Sunday's game

Barkley is set to play Sunday night against the Washington Commanders despite a back injury that held him to 10 snaps last Monday against the Dallas Cowboys. He missed practice Wednesday and Thursday before logging a limited session Friday. The back injury flared up during the loss to Dallas as Barkley was compensating for a hamstring injury that was already bothering him.

Barkley is not at full strength right now, and this season is shaping up to be the first of his three years in Philadelphia without a playoff appearance. Playing through pain in the middle of a stretch like that isn't glamorous, but it's where Barkley says he wants to be.

Jonathan Taylor becomes the top back on the market

With Barkley off the table, Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor is now the only top-tier running back still available in a trade. Sources told ESPN and NFL Network the Colts are open to moving Taylor before the Nov. 10 deadline. One name comes off the board, another goes on it. That's how a trade deadline works once a contender decides to hold and a seller decides to answer the phone.

Barkley on why he keeps playing hurt

Barkley talked Friday about why he keeps playing through the injuries. "I could've gave it a chance and I didn't," he said, describing what he does not want to look back on once his career ends. He said he likes playing football and will try to play whenever he gets the chance. That lines up with the way he's described the three seasons he's spent in Philadelphia: no playoff trip yet, and no interest in sitting one out if he can play.

Facts per ESPN. Opinion is the taproom's.