Eagles' Saquon Barkley returns vs. Titans after injury scare - USA Today

The Philadelphia Eagles lost their starting running back, Saquon Barkley, for most of the first half of their Week 2 game against the Tennessee Titans.

The good news for Eagles fans? He returned to the field to start the second half.

Barkley's original injury occurred on his first carry of the game, which went for zero yards. The 29-year-old was hit hard by Jeffery Simmons and had several big-bodied linemen land on top of him before he exited the game.

Barkley went to the blue medical tent for treatment after taking the hit. He eventually came out of the tent and was seen running to the locker room favoring his left side while the Eagles' offense was on the field.

Barkley was replaced by Tank Bigsby upon leaving the game. The veteran back split playing time with Will Shipley while Barkley remained out of action.

Barkley returned to the Eagles' Week 2 game against the Titans on their first offensive play of the second half.

The Eagles had announced Barkley was "questionable" to return after suffering a stinger on the first play of the game. The 29-year-old running back did not return to the field in the first half despite returning to the sideline still in uniform – with a neck collar added to his ensemble – after being evaluated in the locker room.

Many believed that to be a bad sign for Barkley, who was also spotted without his helmet while standing on the sideline.

Nonetheless, Barkley was able to return to start the second half. That will allow him an opportunity to improve upon his one-carry, no-yard stat-line from his brief, first-half action.

For those wondering, a stinger is defined as "a stretch or a pinch to one or more of the nerves branching off the spinal cord," according to the Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago.

Stingers are considered a "mild injury" and can "cause tingling and numbness in the arms and fingers."

Tank Bigsby is listed as Barkley's backup on the Eagles' official depth chart. Philadelphia acquired the 25-year-old in an early-season trade from the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2025, and the Auburn product logged 58 carries for 344 yards and two touchdowns for the Eagles.

While Bigsby is listed as Barkley's backup, Will Shipley actually played 10 offensive snaps to Bigsby's six in the season opener. Shipley had 14 carries for 49 yards in 2025.

The Eagles have just three running backs on their 53-man roster. Below is a look at the pecking order within that unit.