PHILADELPHIA -- Eagles running back Saquon Barkley is expected to return to practice Thursday and is in line to play Monday against the Cowboys, sources told NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, providing a lift to an offense operating without star quarterback Jalen Hurts, who is out for the year because of blood clots in his lungs.
Barkley exited early in the first quarter during a Week 4 loss to the Los Angeles Rams because of a hamstring injury and has been sidelined for the past two games.
"I would love to play Monday night. I would be doing myself a disservice to sit here and say Monday night, I'm guaranteeing myself to play. I do know I have all trust in the trainers," he said after Thursday's practice. "To be honest, I was trying to go last week. It sounded great in my head and then you sit and you're like, maybe they were right. But I'm happy to have the opportunity to go out there and test it and, God willing, continue to trend in the right direction throughout the week and to be able to go and play Monday night."
With Barkley, Tank Bigsby (abdomen) and Will Shipley (foot) all injured, the Eagles were down to their fourth-string running back in Dameon Pierce against the Carolina Panthers last week. Bigsby and Shipley remain on injured reserve, but Barkley's return should provide a boost to a ground game that ranks 29th in rushing yards per game (82.2).
Barkley has appeared in four games and has 36 carries for 182 yards (5.1 yards per attempt).
Eagles left tackle Jordan Mailata called it a "morale boost" to have Barkley back on the practice field. Barkley has been trying to lift spirits behind the scenes as well, pouring positivity into the younger guys and getting the players to look at the opportunity in front of them despite their 2-4 start and the loss of their starting quarterback, among others.
"You're not looking too far ahead, but the NFC East is struggling and the NFC East is really asking for someone to take it over," he said. "It's going to be a team that figures it out and starts playing at a high level. We have the opportunity. We have that chance. Even with all these injuries and with all the crazy things that are happening, we have a lot of talent."
Personnel has been an issue even on this talented roster, however. The offensive line has been missing three-fifths of its original starting five -- Lane Johnson (retirement), Cam Jurgens (traded) and Landon Dickerson (knee) -- and has not been nearly as stout as usual in the run or pass game.
On defense, the Eagles have a handful of injured players, including edges Nolan Smith Jr. (concussion), Jalyx Hunt (knee/ankle) and Jonathan Greenard (ankle). Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said he was hopeful that Greenard could play against the Cowboys while calling it "possible" that Hunt plays, depending on how practice goes this week.
Barkley also touched on the Hurts situation, offering candid thoughts on how things are being portrayed publicly.
"It sucks that the first thing in my opinion is people trying to make it an Eagles versus Jalen thing," he said. "Jalen is a heck of a guy, a heck of a leader and a guy who deeply cares about this sport and cares about other people. Anytime the game is taken away from somebody, that sucks, but especially in this situation where we don't fully know the magnitude of it."