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The hearts of the Philadelphia Eagles team and fans briefly stopped in Sunday’s bout against the Tennessee Titans when superstar running back Saquon Barkley was forced out of the contest with an apparent injury.
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Originally, it looked like Barkley’s arm was bothering him after being swallowed by Tennessee’s defensive line in the backfield, but a specific bit of equipment made it seem like the back’s injury could be more heart-wrenching. Barkley returned to the sideline with his helmet on, but he utilized a «cowboy collar» underneath his Eagles jersey.
Here’s more on the injury to the Eagles star, along with a description of the running back’s wardrobe addition.
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What is Saquon Barkley wearing around his neck?
After an injury scare in the first half, Barkley returned to action with a key difference on his person: a brace known as a «cowboy collar.» The Philly back was swallowed up by the Titans defensive line, and his head appeared to jerk back once going down.
The collar prevents that action from happening and is crucial in order to safeguard a player’s head and/or neck health against those types of plays.
Saquon Barkley is now wearing a neck collar. #Eagles pic.twitter.com/PxqOZGJtJB
— Eagles Nation (@PHLEaglesNation) September 20, 2026
What is a cowboy collar?
According to Q30, a football equipment company, cowboy collars are also known as neck rolls. Essentially, cowboy collars are padded foam devices that wrap around the sides and rear of a player’s neck.
It lies atop a player’s shoulder pads and creates a safeguarded barrier that prevents an athlete’s head from jerking backward when they are hit. They are usually utilized by defensive players who frequently hit other players.
Saquon Barkley injury update
Early in the first quarter of the Eagles game in Tennessee, Barkley was knocked out of the contest with an injury that was originally reported as an arm injury. It was later deemed to be a «stinger,» and the running back headed back to the locker room, much to the worry of the team and fans across the country.
Here’s the play that forced the running back out of Sunday’s contest.
This is the play that put Saquan Barkley in the blue medical tent pic.twitter.com/mdcgNOltGg
— Aggregate (@AggregateSports) September 20, 2026
Injury Update: RB Saquon Barkley (stinger) is questionable to return.
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) September 20, 2026
Before the first quarter had even finished, the 29-year-old was back on Philly’s sideline with his helmet on. Eagle-eyed viewers did notice, however, that Barkley had a cowboy collar on under his jersey.
Cowboy collars are traditionally used to protect against erratic neck movements, and it seems like the running back’s injury was separate from the arm injury that it was originally reported as.
#SaquonBarkley returning with Cowboy collar after early stinger pic.twitter.com/cdJoXu1DbR
— David J. Chao — ProFootballDoc (@ProFootballDoc) September 20, 2026
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Eagles RB depth chart
With the latest Barkley injury, both Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley will oversee the rushing duties. While Bigsby sits ahead of the former Clemson Tiger, it was Shipley who saw the early rushing attempts increase. Bigsby has more experience as a rusher, while Shipley can be utilized more for passing plays as a receiver.
It remains to be seen whether or not Barkley will miss a significant portion of time. At the moment, he returned to the Eagles sideline with a neck collar. Here’s what Philadelphia’s running back room looks like:
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| RB option | Player |
| 1. | Saquon Barkley (Ques.) |
| 2. | Tank Bigsby |
| 3. | Will Shipley |
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