Saquon Barkley steps onto the NovaCare field like a headliner. His cleats shine. He jukes like Barry in Tecmo Bowl. You half expect a slow-motion montage and a Creed riff. Then the next rep starts, and a simple swing pass clangs off his gloves like a missed free throw at the Wells Fargo. Suddenly the hype tape rewinds itself.
On Day 5 in full pads, Barkley made a one-handed snag that drew gasps. Twitter clipped it, slow-mo’d it... and slapped a flame emoji on repeat. Reuben Frank noted, “He looks great.” Dave Zangaro chimed, “It looked like what A.J. Brown does.” But the same practice often features a few drops on routine flat route.
Frank sighed, “He’ll make a spectacular catch. It’s just the ones he drops are routine ones.”
Zangaro flashed back to last January’s Atlanta game. “All you had to do was catch it,” he said. Barkley blinked on that exact play, turning a walk-in score into a punt. "I dropped the ball," Barkley admitted. "Let my team down today." But Eagles fans still feel that chill like it’s 4th-and-26.
Why the Sproles Parallel?
Darren Sproles, legend of punt returns and screen passes, also fought the occasional drop. “Sproles wasn’t all the time a natural catcher either,” Zangaro reminded listeners. The comp isn’t mockery, though. It’s a mirror. Sproles sharpened his mitts through sheer reps. Barkley may need the same grind.
And while Barkley dazzles and flubs, Will Shipley snags everything. The second-year Clemson product turned a Texas route into six on Tuesday, then tiptoed the left sideline like prime Brian Westbrook. Frank admitted, “Shipley is a more natural pass catcher.” The gap is small, but the camera notices.
Coaches still script Barkley for every first-team drill. Kevin Patullo told reporters, “We’re built through the running game.” Eagles insider Eliot Shorr-Parks revealed Barkley is getting roughly six touches per practice session. That’s nearly double last camp's 3-3.5 average. So, the Eagles aren’t easing off the throttle; they’re flooring it. But every drop invites doubt.
If a 3rd-and-4 pass ricochets skyward in September, the crowd will groan louder than a Phillies bullpen meltdown. Sirianni’s play sheet already leans run-heavy. One extra drop could tilt the whole offense into predictable territory. That's where Shipley lurks as the safety valve.
Shipley’s Quiet Surge
Will Shipley is 209 pounds of quick twitch, and Barkley himself called him “the smartest back in the room.” That praise stings like lemon on a paper cut. Competition, after all, keeps the throne warm.
The Bengals visit next Thursday. If Barkley secures every ball, the whispers fade. If not, Philadelphia will remember Sproles fixed his drops and won a ring. Barkley must author the same sequel.
Barkley’s workload signals unwavering faith in his central role. His hands, however, remain an intriguing subplot—capable of the spectacular yet occasionally betraying him on the simple plays. Managing this duality, and Barkley’s touches, will be key to defending their crown.
