Saquon Barkley Returns to Practice but Stops Short of Guaranteeing Monday Night

Saquon Barkley returned to Eagles practice Thursday as a limited participant, according to ProFootballTalk (NBC Sports). He's been sidelined the last two weeks with an ankle injury, and while the team's first injury report ahead of Monday night's game against the Cowboys confirms he was on the field, Barkley himself won't guarantee he plays.

"I would love to play Monday night. I would be doing myself a disservice to sit here and say Monday night I'm guaranteeing myself to play," Barkley said, via Tim McManus of ESPN. He added that he attempted to return last week before thinking better of it, and said he's putting his trust in the training staff.

Saquon Barkley

Barkley is officially questionable heading into the week, and limited practice participation after a two-week absence is a cautiously optimistic sign — not a green light. The source story notes he's "reportedly on track to play," but his own hedged quote is worth taking seriously. This is a wait-and-see situation through Friday and Saturday's injury reports before you make any lineup decisions around him. In dynasty, the ankle concern is worth monitoring but shouldn't change his long-term value if he plays Monday and comes through clean. In redraft (standard scoring or PPR — points per reception), don't start him blind; lock in a handcuff or backup plan now and check his status closer to game time.

The Eagles also held DeVonta Smith (hamstring) and Dallas Goedert (knee) out of Thursday's practice entirely. If both remain out Monday, Barkley's receiving role — already central to this offense — becomes even more important to his floor, assuming he does suit up.