Saquon Barkley explains why he’s powering through injuries in trying Eagles season

Saquon Barkley isn’t letting an injury keep him on the sidelines if he can help it.

The Eagles running back appears on track to play Sunday despite dealing with hamstring and back issues, determined not to miss an opportunity he’ll later regret.

“One day, I’m not going to be playing football,” Barkley told reporters on Friday. “Whenever that is, I’m going to look back. I don’t want to look back and be like, ‘I could have gave it a chance and I didn’t.’ That’s kind of what I live by. So I try my best to just keep recovering, being smart, but I like playing football. If I have an opportunity to play, I’m going to try my best to play.”

After missing practice earlier this week, the Eagles took Barkley off the injury report Friday, putting him in line to play the division rival Commanders on Sunday night. 

Barkley, 29, returned to the field on Monday against the Cowboys after missing the two previous games with a hamstring strain. 

He appeared to aggravate his hamstring on his first play, a 29-yard run.

Barkley was limited to just nine snaps, also experiencing back discomfort and making multiple trips to the blue medical tent.

Despite the limited action, Barkley finished with 62 rushing yards on seven carries.

“I don’t get it. I just have to find a way to get healthy,” Barkley said after the game. “It’s annoying. That’s what I’m dealing with so far in the season, and I just got to find a way to get healthy.”

Barkley declared that he’s going to do whatever it takes to be on the field despite what’s shaping up to be a lost season for the Eagles. 

Philadelphia has lost five straight games and is 2-5 heading into a Week 8 bout with Washington.