Eagles React to Saquon Barkley’s Back Jump: ‘I Felt Like a Fan for a Second’

Saquon Barkley came off the left sideline and took a pass from Jalen Hurts while still on the offensive end on 3rd-and-6 in the first half.

Jacksonville defensive back Tyson Campbell ran toward him to make a tackle, but the Eagles running backs threw him down with a wild card.

Next up was midfielder Devin Lloed. Barkley put him on spin skates.

Jarrian Jones then thought he lined up Barkley to take him down with his back to the Jaguars defender off the rotation. And yet, in a split second, Barkley jumped completely back, right over Jones’ head, to continue the move.

It took three more Jacksonville defenders to close in and finally bring down Barkley after he gained 14 yards for the first down and sent the crowd at Lincoln Financial Field roaring.

This was the brightest video freeze frame moment it defined the Eagles’ rollercoaster ride in Sunday’s 28-23 victory — even in a game that included a one-handed touchdown catch from DeVonta Smith, a late Jacksonville play and Nakobe Dean’s game-saving interception.

It was also a game that showed just how special a player Saquon Barkley truly is, how much of a difference he has made and can continue to make to the Eagles’ offense, and how endlessly confusing it was for the New York Giants to simply dismiss he should go for walks in the off-season (on camera).

And there were plenty of reactions to that moment after the game, here’s a selection of them from the field, from the Eagles’ locker room and from the press conference podium…

• Barkley to CBS’ AJ Ross about the game and the barrier back onto the field after the game: “I was kind of just playing ball. Release the ball and let your body simply react. This game was great and all, but there were a lot of things that happened in the second half that I needed to correct, take care of the ball and situational football. , but that’s the beauty of football. You have to support each other, and the defense supported me today. The most important thing is that we won.

• Defensive end Josh Sweet in your locker: “I won’t lie, I felt like a fan for a second. I had to go back to who I was, but I thought, “Yeah, that was crazy!”

• Right tackle Lane Johnsonrewatches this clip on his phone during the post-game press scrum: “I saw the spin… How the hell did he see it?… (Jones) was still on his feet. He didn’t even dive or anything… I don’t know, man… Some guys got lucky. Some guys got it all.”

• Defenseman Sydney Brown: “I have never seen a man do this in my life. I don’t know if you’ve seen his reverse spin before, that in itself was impressive, but the fact that… I don’t I don’t even know how you plan that in your head… I don’t even know what you’re talking about you think about it. But I have never seen a man jump so high for his weight and size. It was. simply incredible. It was probably one of the best plays I’ve ever seen in my life and he deserves it. He works as hard as he can week after week and he is a product of what he does. His training habits become game day reality. and that’s what you saw tonight.”

• Wide receiver Jahan Dotson: “It was crazy… Yes, it was the craziest play I’ve ever seen. He’s amazing.”

• Wide receiver DeVonta Smithwith a big smile in the press conference room: “Crazy. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

• Quarterback Jalen Hurts: “Yes, God has blessed Saquon with some special things and I really sincerely pray that he continues to use those things to the fullest and bring him glory with it because those special things that he can do… I just need him. continue to be that player.”

• Head Coach Nick Sirianniwho constantly lost words when talking about the play: “It was the best performance I have ever seen…Saquon’s play, I just… there will be… What I think is so cool is that all over the country and all over Philadelphia there will be kids – I really think about it – trying to do this play and talking about this play and imitate which play the same way as playing backyard soccer or tiny soccer. They won’t be able to do it because in this play, I think he’s the only one in the world who could do it. I thought it was… I was speechless, it was incredible.”

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