Saquon Barkley could return to MVP form, and that’s bad news for the NFC East

After delivering what was arguably the best individual season by a running back in NFL history in 2024, Saquon Barkley saw his production decline in 2025, just like the Philadelphia Eagles , who were unable to replicate the dominance they displayed the previous year.

However, “coming back down to earth” for Barkley still meant finishing with 1,140 rushing yards , the fourth-best mark of his career. The difference was that, after becoming a constant threat with explosive 30, 40, and even 50-plus-yard runs during his first season in Philadelphia , things became much more difficult for the star running back in his second year with the team.

Barkley went from recording 11 games with more than 100 rushing yards in 2024 to just three in 2025 , raising questions about whether he could return to the level that made him one of the league’s most dominant players.

The biggest question is whether the 29-year-old running back has reached the point that many veteran players at the position eventually face: a physical decline that prevents them from replicating historic seasons. But according to Lane Johnson , there is still plenty left to expect from Barkley.

During Wednesday’s Eagles practice, the veteran offensive lineman made it clear that fans should not count out the No. 26 and predicted a version of Barkley much closer to the one that dominated in 2024 .

Lane Johnson believes in Saquon Barkley’s resurgence

“The more productive we are in the run game and stuff feeds off that, we'll see the Saquon from two years ago. We'll see the big plays, we'll see him flex wide at wide receiver, we'll see him in the screen game,” Johnson said via The Athletic’s Zach Berman .

Although Barkley is entering his ninth NFL season, his workload is not comparable to many running backs his age. The three-time Pro Bowler has played only 113 career games after missing most of the 2020 season due to injury and appearing in just seven playoff games during his time with the New York Giants because of the team’s struggles to reach the postseason.

Even though Barkley’s career is entering an advanced stage for a running back, Johnson believes he still has plenty left in the tank. And if he is right, Eagles fans could once again see the explosive version of the player who dominated the NFL in 2024 .