The Philadelphia Eagles have made a decision that will have an impact on NFL history as it keeps Saquon Barkley from chasing Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record.
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Head coach Nick Sirianni informed the media on Jan. 1 ahead of a game against the New York Giants. He said that he will rest some of the players during a meaningless game. The Eagles have nothing to play for after winning the NFC East and locking up the No. 2 seed in the division.
"We're locked into that (No. 2) seed, so we're going to rest some guys," Sirianni said. "There are going to be some guys that are resting, some guys that are in reserve roles. You can't obviously rest everybody with (the roster).
"That's our plan moving forward. ...(Saquon) will probably be someone that rests."
As Sirianni explained, the timing of the Bye week played a role in the decision. The Eagles had their Bye in Week 5, which was one of the earliest in the league. He also met with multiple people in the building, including Barkley and team owner Jeffrey Lurie.
Barring any unexpected changes, Barkley's regular season will end with 345 carries for 2,005 yards and 13 touchdowns. Postseason stats do not count toward single-season records.
Dickerson holds the record for the most rushing yards in a single season with 2,105. Adrian Peterson is second with 2,097. The other 2,000-yard rushers include Jamal Lewis (2,066), Barry Sanders (2,053), Derrick Henry (2,027), Terrell Davis (2,008), Chris Johnson (2,006), and OJ Simpson (2,003).
This decision, while expected, ensures that Barkley will enter the postseason healthy. He has been the best player on the Eagles all season long, especially as quarterback Jalen Hurts has missed time with a concussion.
Breaking a record would be a significant achievement for Barkley in what has already been a career year. However, the team has reiterated that the Super Bowl is the bigger priority.
"Obviously, it's a very special record that's been standing for a long time by a great player," Sirianni added. "It's a team record that everybody's involved in. You take and weigh all of those things, but at the end of the day, you just try to do what's best for the team."
