Eagles' Barkley Limps Off Practice Field With Foot or Ankle Issue

According to Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk, Barkley's cleat came off as he was checked out by trainers, and the shoe stayed off even as he remained on the field. While the hope is that it is a minor issue that won't keep him off the field for long or at all, the incident highlights uncomfortable truths for the Eagles. The upcoming season will be Barkley's ninth in the NFL, and if the Eagles reach the Super Bowl, he will turn 30 in the week leading up to the game.

In professional football, 30 is widely considered the age at which running backs are no longer as effective or healthy as they were earlier in their careers. StatMuse lists only seven running backs currently playing at over 30 years old, and one of them — Kyle Juszczyk of the San Francisco 49ers — is a fullback, not a primary ball carrier like Barkley.