It's safe to say there are not many electrifying running backs quite like former Penn Stateman Saquon Barkley in the NFL. The way he is able to explode after contact and get into the open field is nothing short of impressive and opposing defenses always have to be worried about his speed. Still, in the Eagles' season-opening 24-22 win over the Commanders, there were still some tell-tale signs that Barkley may need more help than people realize to get going.
While Barkley had somewhat of an efficient day with 15 carries for 83 yards, he didn't score a touchdown and found himself having to fight for extra yardage as well. In fact, 78 of Barkley's 83 rushing yards came after contact, which is a bad sign for an offensive line that still might not
be over the loss of a guy like Lane Johnson.
The fact that Barkley was able to generate positive yardage is huge, but chances are the Eagles don't want to wear him out with physical, between the tackles run often.
While the Commanders' defense is not one of the best in the league, the Eagles and Saquon will face tougher tests down the road where more defenses will key in on stopping the run. In the latter half of the schedule, they face a gauntlet of physical defenses, such as the Texans, Seahawks, and the 49ers. While it's also important to acknowledge this was the first game for new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion, the Eagles will soon find out if Saquon can be slowed down, there will be little margin for error in a tough NFC this year.
Saquon Barkley and the Eagles will play on the road against the Tennessee Titans in Week 2. The game will feature two former Penn State star running backs with Barkley and rookie Nicholas Singleton, who was drafted by the Titans in the 2026 NFL draft.
This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Saquon Barkley efficient in Eagles season opener, but questions remain
