Eagles’ Saquon Barkley Sounds Off on Lack of Carries Narrative After Week 5 Loss
The Philadelphia Eagles offense seems to be stuck in a lose-lose situation when it comes to the national media. Mostly, the team’s offense has received criticism for its lack of aggressiveness through the air early in 2025. But following the Week 5 loss to the Denver Broncos, pundits pointed to the lack of opportunities for Saquon Barkley has a major error.
After the Broncos matchup, the All-Pro running back voiced his frustration over the disapproval of the Eagles offensive philosophy regardless of what the unit does.
“I don’t really know what you want. If I touch the ball too much sometimes, we’re not throwing enough,” Barkley told the media, via The Athletic’s Zach Berman. “If we throw it too much and I only have nine touches — I’m not in the business of, what are we doing enough? I’m in the business of winning football games.
“We didn’t win the football game. With nine touches, we had the opportunity to win the football game still. We weren’t detailed enough. Too many mistakes, too many penalties.”
Although Barkley did record a 47-yard touchdown reception to open the third quarter, the Eagles built a 14-point lead without Barkley being a main part of their game plan against the Broncos.
However, as the running back mentioned, the Eagles lost the game, as the Broncos tallied 18 unanswered points in the fourth quarter.
Barkley finished the loss with five yards per carry but only 30 rushing yards on six attempts.
The last time Barkley had just six carries in a game was November 22, 2021 with the New York Giants.
Nick Sirianni Admits Eagles Offense ‘Out of Balance’
The Eagles had the game plan to get receivers A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith involved often against the Broncos. It worked when Denver played mostly man-to-man coverage in the first half.
But during the second half, the Broncos switched to featuring zone coverage. The Eagles also killed a few of their drives with self-inflicted penalties.
Throughout the game, Denver stacked the box to deter the Eagles from running the ball with Barkley. Philadelphia had just 11 rushes in the defeat, and two of those were scrambles from Hurts.
Meanwhile, the quarterback attempted 38 passes. Hurts also had six other drop backs that resulted in sacks.
When asked if the Eagles offense was “out of balance” from a run-pass standpoint Sunday, head coach Nick Sirianni admitted it was.
“Yeah … when we talk about A.J. [Brown] the ball, Devonta [Smith] the ball or Saquon [Barkley] the ball, we want to get all of them the ball as much as we possibly can. Dallas [Goedert] as well,” Sirianni said. “Obviously, we want to run the ball more than what we were able to do or what we did today.
“You always want to come out of a game with Saquon getting enough touches because of the type of player he is. Again, we’ll look for solutions.”
The Eagles rushed for 45 yards in Week 5 versus the Broncos. In each of the first four games of the season, Philadelphia had at least 86 yards on the ground.
Jalen Hurts Stresses Need for Eagles to Run More
The Eagles quarterback wouldn’t admitted to the offense being “out of balance” Sunday. But he expressed the overall same idea that the unit needs to feature Barkley and the run game a lot more than it did in Week 5.
“I wouldn’t say the word ‘out-of-balance.’ I just think we’re searching for improvement,” Hurts told reporters. “And so, given what type of team we’re built to be, you gotta be able to establish the run in some regard.
“It may not be what it’s been but ultimately being able to lean on the run game is important. We just have to look into how we can improve in that arena and go out there and take ownership of the things that we can control and grow from this opportunity.”
Instead of trying to control the ball with a lead in the fourth quarter, the Eagles continued to throw. Again, that was in part because penalties put the unit “behind the sticks.”
Hurts really struggled in the second half. After his touchdown pass to Barkley to open the third quarter, Hurts finished Week 5 going 7 for 15 with 68 passing yards.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS RB GEORGE HOLANI READY TO STEP UP IN A BIG WAY: MIKE MACDONALD GIVES BOLD PREDICTION FOR STAR’S BREAKOUT PERFORMANCE
A second-year running back out of Boise State is expected to get some carries Sunday for the Seattle Seahawks as the team has injuries at the position.
After not practicing all week, Zach Charbonnet is listed as doubtful heading into Sunday after missing all practices this week due to a foot injury. Over the first two games of the season, he shared backfield duties with Kenneth Walker III.
Walker, who rushed for 105 yards on 13 carries in Week 2, is expected to get more carries in Week 3 when the Seahawks host the New Orleans Saints (0-2). Charbonnet received more carries (15) than Walker last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1).
Charbonnet has also played significantly more snaps than Walker throughout the first weeks because the Seahawks are still managing a foot injury that Walker has had for the last month and half. Charbonnet was injured during the game last week.
Macdonald Says George Holani Has ‘Done a Tremendous Job’
With Charbonnet likely out, head coach Mike MacDonald says backup George Holani is ready to step into the role.
“If Zach doesn’t play, George is the next back,” MacDonald said Friday. “Every time we’ve given George an opportunity he’s done a tremendous job. We expect the same thing.”
Holani steps in as the third running back with Kenny McIntosh sidelined for the season on injured reserve.
GettySEATTLE, WASHINGTON – AUGUST 7: George Holani #36 of the Seattle Seahawks carries the ball during the first quarter of the NFL Preseason 2025 game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Lumen Field on August 7, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jane Gershovich/Getty Images)
Holani Recovered Historic Kickoff Touchdown Last Week
All 33 of Holani’s snaps this season have come on special teams. In last weekend’s game at Pittsburgh, his heads-up sprint to recover Jason Myers’ kickoff near the goal line set up a fourth-quarter touchdown. That hustle extended Seattle’s lead from three points to two scores in the final period.
The Seahawks noted that further review showed it was just the third time since the 1970 NFL merger that a team scored a touchdown on a kickoff recovery in the end zone, with the only other instances occurring in 1984 and 2017.
Holani explained that the Seahawks are coached to treat every ball as live until the whistle blows.
Still, special teams coordinator Jay Harbaugh noted that there’s only so much a coach can dictate.
“You just hope that the players in the moment, in the heat of it, have the clarity to do the right thing,’’ he said, according to The Seattle Times.
Similar praise was heaped on Holani from other coaches as well.
“I’ve just been so impressed with George,” offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak said following practice Thursday. “Every time he gets an opportunity he makes the most of it.
“All he does is work. He doesn’t talk a whole lot. He’s just about getting better, about improving.”
Seahawks Have a Few Notable Injuries
The Seahawks also have other notable injuries. Pro Bowl cornerback Devon Witherspoon (knee), rookie safety Nick Emmanwori (ankle), and Pro Bowl safety Julian Love (hamstring) all missed practice for the second straight day.
Wednesday before practice, Macdonald said, “The sky isn’t falling.”
“But, yeah, we got a couple guys working through some things,” Macdonald added, “but nothing crazy.”
