Saquon Barkley, the Philadelphia Eagles’ superstar running back, is preparing for his eighth season in the National Football League. Shepard is bringing some seriously smart strategy to his training and conditioning. Having an amazing encore 2025 season, Barkley rushed for a franchise-record 2,504 yards during the regular and post-season. Now, he’s applying the same smart approach to his offseason preparation.
In 2024, Barkley surpassed his previous career high of 295 carries, which he achieved in 2022. He completed the regular season with a staggering 345 carries. That was quite the jump, as he rushed 50 times more than he’d ever done before. In his postseason rebuttal, he carried it 91 more times, proving his toughness and talent in the same breath.
Barkley, now 28 years old, is preparing for his fifth NFL season. He’s been getting advice from the likes of head coach Nick Sirianni, running backs coach Jemal Singleton and NFL greats Marshall Faulk and Edgerrin James. This collective action has been a key factor in his specialized training plan to maximize performance while minimizing impact.
That last part is key. Barkley’s approach this offseason marks a distinct shift from previous strategies. In those previous years, he was mainly concerned with showing up to training camp in tip-top condition for that splashy Week 1 kickoff. This year, he wants to use training camp to ease himself into shape. He made it clear that he understands that there’s a fine line between pushing too hard and not doing enough during the players’ reduced schedule.
“It wasn’t hard because everyone I trust told me basically to sit my ass down for a little bit,” said Barkley regarding his decision to alter his offseason routine.
Barkley admits the heavy usage took a toll last season and that it’s natural to worry about the consequences of that kind of load over time. Even so, he’s feeling hopeful about his continued fitness. He stated, “I feel really good. I feel like I’m entering my prime.” This sentiment reflects his commitment to maintaining peak performance while being mindful of his body’s needs.
Nick Sirianni commented on the team’s approach to monitoring player workloads, saying, “We kind of monitored everybody as we went.” We do this in order to have players feel their very best while getting the most out of their bodies on the field.
Barkley’s jump in the gym this offseason comes largely from incorporating feedback from trainers and strength staff, creating an all-around training regimen specifically fit for him. His natural concern about the impact of last season’s heavy usage underscores the challenges he faces as he continues in a physically demanding role.
Leave a Reply