Saquon Barkley Set to Play Through Neck Injury Against Bears

Barkley Ready to Go

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley is preparing to take the field this Monday night against the Chicago Bears. Despite suffering a painful neck stinger in his last game, the star runner plans to play without any hesitation.

Barkley was injured on his very first carry of the game when defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons tackled him for no gain. After a trip to the medical tent and some time in the locker room, Barkley briefly returned. However, he only played 10 of the team's 72 offensive snaps, finishing the day with just four carries for 9 yards.

Injury Update and Recovery

Following the injury, Barkley underwent an MRI on Monday to ensure there was no major damage. The results were clean, clearing the way for his return to practice.

Barkley was limited during Thursday's practice session but upgraded to a full participant on Friday. The 29 year old running back has a history of stingers, but he noted this was his first severe one in a long time.

He viewed the injury as a wake up call to focus more on his neck strength. Barkley explained that while he usually focuses heavily on his lower body and career longevity, he now plans to add neck stability exercises to his daily routine.

Playing Fearless on Monday Night

To protect himself on Monday, Barkley plans to wear a modified neck roll. He wore a standard neck roll when he briefly returned to the game last week, but this new version will allow for better mobility on the field.

Through two games this season, Barkley has rushed for 92 yards on 19 carries, averaging 4.8 yards per run. He has not missed a single game due to injury during his two plus years with the Eagles.

Barkley insists the stinger will not slow him down against Chicago. He said he is rehabbing hard to get his neck strong and feels he is in a great spot. "I'm going to let the game come, and I'm going to go out there and play fearless," Barkley said.