Saquon Barkley tweaks his hamstring on his first carry, then hurts his back as the Cowboys beat the Eagles 38-21

Saquon Barkley’s return lasted one carry before the trouble started. The Philadelphia Eagles running back broke off a 29-yard run on his first touch against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night, pulled up at the end of it and spent the rest of the night between the field, the blue medical tent and the locker room. In the fourth quarter the Eagles listed him as questionable to return with a back injury, and Dallas finished a 38-21 win that dropped Philadelphia to 2-5 with a fifth straight loss.

Hamstring first, then the back

Barkley had missed two games with the right hamstring injury he suffered against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 4. He returned to practice on Thursday, was a full participant on Saturday and was active on Monday. He scored on an 8-yard run on the opening drive and later ran 12 yards on the first play of the second half, but he played only 10 snaps and finished with 62 yards on seven carries plus two catches for 9 yards.

After the game Barkley said he tweaked the hamstring on that first run and hurt his back while trying to play through it. “I don’t get it. I just have to find a way to get healthy,” he said. “It’s annoying.” It is his third injury of the season after an earlier stinger.

Britain Covey hurts his knee

Kick returner Britain Covey injured his knee in the first quarter and was listed as questionable to return. Dameon Pierce took most of the carries with Barkley out, and the Eagles had already elevated running back Elijah Mitchell from the practice squad for the game.

Three returns from injured reserve

Before kickoff the Eagles activated guard Landon Dickerson and tight ends Grant Calcaterra and Eli Stowers from injured reserve, and Stowers, a second-round pick, made his NFL debut. Cornerback Jakorian Bennett (knee) was ruled out, and receivers DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks and edge rusher Nolan Smith were also inactive. The Eagles’ final injury report is here.

Philadelphia is also without Jalen Hurts, who is expected to miss the rest of the season with blood clots in his lungs. Tanner McKee completed 23 of 35 passes for 211 yards, a touchdown to rookie Makai Lemon and an interception. The league and the players’ union are reviewing Hurts’ medical care together.

DeMarvion Overshown seals it in his return

Dallas linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, playing for the first time since a Week 1 hamstring injury, intercepted McKee in the fourth quarter to end the Eagles’ last real chance. Javonte Williams ran for a career-high 155 yards and Dak Prescott threw three touchdown passes, two to CeeDee Lamb. The 3-4 Cowboys host the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET, 8:00 p.m. in Cairo.

What’s next for the Eagles

The Eagles visit the Washington Commanders on Sunday night, Nov. 1, at 8:20 p.m. ET, 3:20 a.m. Monday in Cairo. Their first injury report of the week is due on Wednesday, and Barkley’s back and hamstring will be the main question. Every other Monday diagnosis from Week 7 is in our injury roundup.