PHILADELPHIA -- Eagles running back Saquon Barkley plans to play "fearless" Monday night against the Chicago Bears as he eyes a return from a stinger injury.
Barkley was tackled for no gain by defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons on the first offensive snap from scrimmage and went indoors after being examined in the medical tent.
He returned briefly in the second half but played just 10 of a possible 72 snaps and finished with four carries for 9 yards.
Barkley returned to the practice field this week after undergoing an MRI on Monday. He was listed as a full participant Friday after being limited Thursday.
"I've had a history of [stingers] before. This is the first bad one I had in a long time," he said. "It's also like a wake-up call to me. I've been super active focusing on my lower body and longevity of my career. I probably wasn't as great as I needed to be with my neck stability and strengthening my neck. So it's putting that within my routine and having that as part of my process and kind of the same way I attack everything from head to toe, do the same thing with my neck.
"It's good to have an MRI knowing it's nothing, hopefully, God willing, where I worry about my career and I can just go out there and play free."
Barkley, 29, returned to the game Sunday with a neck roll and plans to wear a modified version Monday night that allows for greater mobility.
Barkley has rushed for 92 yards on 19 carries through two games this season (4.8 yards per carry). He has not missed a full game due to injury in his two-plus years in Philadelphia.
"I don't think so," Barkley said, when asked if the injury will affect him against Chicago. "That's why I'm rehabbing my ass off, to get it as strong as it needs to be. I feel like I'm in a really good spot. I know they wouldn't let me go out there if I wasn't able to do it.
"I'm going to let the game come, and I'm going to go out there and play fearless, don't worry about."
