Last season, the Philadelphia Eagles relied heavily on running back Saquon Barkley, giving him the highest workload of his professional career. Barkley carried the ball 345 times, surpassing his previous single-season high of 295 carries set with the New York Giants in 2022. Only Derrick Henry has had more touches in a season since 2012.
Following such an intense campaign, coaches and teammates advised Barkley to carefully manage his recovery during the offseason. His goal is to find the right balance between rest and conditioning to maintain peak performance.
Barkley Emphasizes Recovery and Smart Training
Barkley shared his offseason approach after Eagles minicamp, saying,
“Everyone I trust told me basically to sit my ass down for a little bit,”
as reported by ESPN. He led the entire NFL in carries last season, translating that workload into a league-best 2,005 rushing yards during the regular season. His efforts continued deep into the playoffs, where he added 91 carries for 499 yards and five touchdowns, contributing significantly to Philadelphia’s Super Bowl victory.
He explained his mindset moving forward, stating,
“You’ve just got to be smarter, right? You have your moments where you go in there and you grind, you push it. But the majority of those days is just mobility, conditioning, doing all the things to get your body in shape to perform at a high level. It was a lot of workload [last year], but my body feels great, so that’s the most important thing.”
Balancing Workload With Injury Prevention
Workload management is especially critical for Barkley, given his history with a torn ACL in 2020. Although he showed no lingering effects from that serious injury last season, his recovery period included some uneven years. Maintaining his health is vital for both Barkley and the Eagles, as he remains the centerpiece of their offense.
Despite the heavy usage, Barkley improved his efficiency last season, setting career highs with a 5.8-yard average per carry and a 52.5% rushing success rate. These stats indicate that even with a high-volume role, he could sustain effectiveness on the field without being diminished by fatigue or injury.
Eagles Prepare for Another Heavy Workload in 2025
Looking ahead to 2025, Barkley is expected to carry a similar workload with the Eagles since their running back depth chart saw minimal changes. AJ Dillon was brought in on a one-year contract to fill the secondary running back role left by Kenneth Gainwell. Dillon’s experience has mostly been as a part-time starter during his four seasons with the Green Bay Packers. Additionally, second-year player Will Shipley, who took 34 carries last season including playoffs, remains part of the rotation.
This setup suggests Barkley will again be the primary offensive workhorse for Philadelphia, reinforcing the importance of his new, smarter training and recovery routine during the offseason to stay healthy and productive.