Saquon Barkley and the rest of the Eagles starters are likely going to sit a large portion of their starters for their upcoming Week 18 game against the Washington Commanders. For Barkley in particular, not playing this coming week will have some pretty major fiscal consequences.
The Eagles All-Pro running back stands to lose a $250,000 bonus due to the way incentives are structured in his contract.
“I do believe the Eagles are going to rest some starters here while still thinking that they can come out with a victory and potentially that No. 2 seed if they get the result that they want from the Chicago-Detroit game,” NFL Network insider Mike Garafolo said on December 30. The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane echoed this, reporting a day later that Philadelphia will indeed rest its starters.
So, exactly how close to nabbing that extra $250,000 would Barkley be if he did play? Let’s break it all down.
More on Eagles RB Saquon Barkley Losing $250K Bonus Due to Philadelphia Resting Starters Week 18
GettySaquon Barkley of the Philadelphia Eagles stands to lose a $250K bonus due to the team resting its starters Week 18 vs. Washington.
Entering Week 18, Barkley is just 87 scrimmage yards shy of a contractual incentive that would trigger a $250,000 bonus tied to his 2025 production. Obviously, if he’s riding the pine, he cannot reach that benchmark. The bonus does not roll over, and there is no protection clause if the team elects to rest him. Thus, it’s looking like he’ll come up under 100 yards shy.
Through 16 games, Barkley has amassed 1,413 yards from scrimmage, with 1,140 yards rushing on 280 carries and 273 receiving yards on 37 catches. He also has nine total touchdowns.
In 2024, he had a career-defining season, surpassing 2,000 rushing yards, while reestablishing himself as one of the league’s most impactful players. He was named the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year for his efforts.
In 2025, Barkley hasn’t been as productive, but his importance to the offense cannot be understated. He has one of the heaviest workloads on the roster, and he has become a leader in the locker room. But considering Philly’s upcoming postseason appearance, resting him makes sense, despite the financial considerations.
Eagles
Philadelphia is already locked into its postseason slot; a Week 18 loss would not change the Eagles’ playoff seeding. The Eagles have locked up at least the No. 3 seed in the NFC, and could rise to No. 2 with a Week 18 win and a Chicago Bears loss. Resting starters, therefore, comes with minimal competitive downside.
As it stands, the Eagles are set host a Wild Card game at Lincoln Financial Field. That won’t change no matter what happens.
Right now, the most likely postseason matchups for Philly are the Green Bay Packers, the Los Angeles Rams, and/or the San Francisco 49ers, depending on how the final week shakes out. A No. 2 seed would likely pit the Eagles against Green Bay, while staying put with the No. 3 seed could mean hosting San Francisco or Los Angeles in the Wild Card round.
Regardless of who they play, Philly is making what they believe is the best decision for the team, and Barkley, regardless of the hit to his wallet, surely understands that.
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