Why are Eagles resting Saquon Barkley, other starters in Week 18 vs. the Giants? | Sporting News

The Eagles are one of several playoff teams who are essentially playing a meaningless game in Week 18, as Philaadelphia already knows its playoff seed this year. In fact, the Eagles’ opponent, the Giants, have more to gain or lose in this game than Philadelphia despite being just 3-13.

The most important storyline entering this week for the Eagles is Saquon Barkley, as the running back has the chance to break the all-time single-season rushing record currently held by Eric Dickerson. Barkley has 2,005 rushing yards through 16 games this year, which is just 100 yards away from Dickerson’s record of 2,105.

While the Eagles surely want to keep Barkley healthy for the playoffs, the opportunity to break the record has complicated the decision. Here is how the Eagles decided to handle their starters this week.

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Why are Eagles resting Saquon Barkley, other starters vs. Giants?

With their win over the Cowboys last week, the Eagles officially clinched the NFC East title and the No. 2 seed in the playoffs. That means that entering the final week of the regular season, the outcome of Philadelphia’s game against the Giants will not impact seeding in any way.

Different teams handle this situation differently, and Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni has opted to rest some of his important players to not risk injury. That includes Saquon Barkley, even though the running back has a chance to break the all-time single-season rushing yards record.

Sirianni made the decision after speaking with Barkley and other Eagles officials and players, as he decided that the running back’s health for the playoffs is more important than the individual record. Barkley acknowledged Sirianni’s decision and said he wants to do what’s best for the team, even if he wanted to try and break the record.

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“I wanted to do it, but once I found out that we’re not, it kind of made it easier for me,” Barkley said, via E.J. Smith. “Because it’s not my decision, it was coach’s decision. I’m glad I didn’t have to make that decision because, say you go out there for selfish reasons and something negative happens, and I’m the one that’s out there trying to get the offensive line to go play and beat the record for me, that’s crazy. I’m just happy I didn’t have to make that decision. Nick made it pretty easy on me, and I’m truly at peace with it.”

For the non-Barkley starters who will sit, Sirianni’s decision was probably easier. Quarterback Jalen Hurts missed last week with a concussion, and he still hasn’t exited concussion protocol even if he was going to play. Other stars like A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith may also get the day off to prepare for their game in the wild-card round of the playoffs.

In fact, speaking of Brown, the Eagles let their starters play in the final week of the season last year with very little to play for, and the star wide receiver went down with a knee injury and couldn’t play in Philadelphia’s wild-card round loss to the Buccaneers. That surely was a part of Sirianni’s calculus in coming to a final decision on Barkley.

Plus, the Eagles’ bye week this year came in Week 5, the earliest in the NFL, so Philadelphia will end the regular season having played 13 straight games. This decision gives the Eagles starters a quasi-bye that they will not get in the playoffs.

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Who are the Eagles resting vs. Giants?

The Eagles haven’t announced the full list of whom they are resting, but Hurts and Barkley are expected to be among those who don’t play.

At the end of the 2022 season, when the Eagles already clinched the No. 1 seed in the playoffs, left tackle Lane Johnson and pass rusher Josh Sweat were both inactive. Hurts played the game after missing the previous two weeks with an injury so he could get some reps before the playoffs began.