Saquon Barkley 'Trending' Toward Return Tonight Against Cowboys

The phrase "trending in the right direction" is NFL speak for a medical staff crossing their fingers and hoping a star player's leg doesn't betray him on national television.

According to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley is doing exactly that ahead of tonight's prime-time matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. Garafolo also reported positive signs for Pro Bowl guard Landon Dickerson and rookie tight end Eli Stowers.

"Mike Garafolo reported Barkley 'continues to trend in the right direction for tonight against the Cowboys.'"

Barkley has been missing in action since Week 4, when he pulled up grabbing his right hamstring on just his second carry against the Los Angeles Rams. He managed limited practices on Thursday and Friday before logging a full session on Saturday, officially drawing a questionable tag for tonight.

Getting Barkley back would be a massive bailout for a Philadelphia offense that is already running out of healthy bodies. Star receiver DeVonta Smith has already been ruled out with a hamstring injury of his own, leaving the Eagles desperate for their workhorse back who racked up 1,413 yards and nine touchdowns on 317 touches last season.

The updates on Dickerson and Stowers are just as crucial for the trenches. Dickerson has been battling a knee and pectoral issue, while Stowers is working through a quad injury. If you want to run the ball against Dallas, having your starting guard upright is a non-negotiable requirement.

For the betting crowd, this is the exact kind of pregame tease that ruins a perfectly good Sunday evening. Anyone holding a Barkley anytime touchdown slip or eyeing his rushing props is now forced to aggressively refresh their feed until the official inactive list drops 90 minutes before kickoff.

If Barkley gets the green light, he steps right back into a massive NFC East rivalry game. If the hamstring needs another week, expect Dameon Pierce to handle the early-down work while the rest of us wonder why we ever trust October injury reports.