The Philadelphia Eagles will not trade star running back Saquon Barkley ahead of the Nov. 10 trade deadline, deciding to keep the 29-year-old centerpiece despite a five-game losing streak that has derailed their season, according to reports from NFL Network and ESPN.
Philadelphia entered Sunday with a 2-5 record and mounting questions about whether the front office would conduct a fire sale. Quarterback Jalen Hurts is sidelined for the rest of the season after physicians discovered multiple blood clots on his lungs, the New York Post reported, while wide receiver DeVonta Smith has been limited by a persistent hamstring injury.
Eyeing a quick turnaround
Despite the difficult start, Philadelphia still views itself as capable of contending for championships once Hurts returns to health, ESPN reported. Keeping Barkley aligns with that outlook, even as the team entertains offers for other players on the roster.
Barkley has two seasons and roughly $35 million remaining on his contract. Trading him before the deadline would also carry heavy financial implications, including a potential $26 million dead-money charge against the team’s salary cap in 2027, according to ProFootballTalk on NBC Sports.
The Eagles have already parted with one notable veteran this fall, sending offensive lineman Cam Jurgens to the Baltimore Ravens after Lane Johnson announced a surprise retirement. The franchise previously navigated cap-heavy contracts under similar conditions, trading wide receiver A.J. Brown after June 1 earlier this year.
Battling injuries on the field
Barkley has endured a frustrating 2026 campaign marked by back and hamstring ailments. Through five appearances, he has recorded only 244 rushing yards and a single touchdown, playing just 10 snaps in Week 7 due to physical limitations.
Despite those struggles, Barkley was expected to play through his injuries on Sunday night against the Washington Commanders. The former New York Giants standout expressed determination to take the field whenever possible.
“One day I’m not going to be playing football,” Barkley told reporters, according to the New York Post. “Whenever that is, I don’t want to look back and be like, ‘I could’ve gave it a chance and I didn’t.’ I like playing football. So if I have an opportunity to play, I’m going to try my best to play.”
When healthy, Barkley has served as one of the NFL’s premier offensive weapons. During Philadelphia’s Super Bowl-winning campaign in 2024, he became just the ninth player in league history to surpass 2,000 rushing yards, finishing with 2,005 yards. He followed that performance with more than 1,100 rushing yards in 2025.
Market shifts toward Indianapolis
With Philadelphia taking Barkley off the trade board, attention across the league shifts to Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor. The Colts have already shown an appetite for reshaping their roster, having traded offensive lineman Quenton Nelson and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner.
Taylor, 27, ranks fifth among NFL rushers this season with 587 yards and eight touchdowns through seven contests. Indianapolis is reportedly open to trade discussions, positioning Taylor as the headline ball-carrier available before the Nov. 10 cutoff.
Philadelphia plays the Commanders on Sunday, followed by a Week 9 matchup against the Giants before entering a bye week that coincides with the league trade deadline.
