Eagles RB Saquon Barkley amazes with backward hurdle for first-down reception

Saquon Barkley hurdled a Jaguars defender backward arsenic portion of an acrobatic 14-yard reception that gave nan Eagles a first down

PHILADELPHIA -- Saquon Barkley had small prime aft a nasty rotation move near him somewhat sideways, forcing him to jump — make it, leapfrog backward.

Barkley’s rear extremity sailed complete Jaguars cornerback Jarrian Jones’ lowered caput successful an bonzer hurdle for nan Eagles moving backmost that had mouths agape astir nan NFL connected Sunday — and moreover near Lakers prima LeBron James awestruck.

“Saquon you're INSANNE!!” James wrote connected an Instagram story.

Eagles coach Nick Sirianni stammered pursuing Philadelphia’s 28-23 victory complete Jacksonville arsenic he tried to find nan words to picture nan astir acrobatic 14-yard reception of nan NFL season.

“It was nan champion play I've ever seen,” Sirianni said.

Simple enough. Unlike nan play.

The telephone seemed elemental enough. Jalen Hurts looked to his near and tossed a short third-and-6 walk from nan Jacksonville 44-yard statement to Barkley successful nan flat.

Barkley faked retired 1 defender and utilized a rotation move that near different Jaguars defender flailing connected nan crushed earlier he pulled disconnected a split-leg, backward leap complete Jones to complete nan first-down catch.

“Crazy,” wide receiver DeVonta Smith said. “I ain't ne'er seen thing for illustration it.”

Smith astir matched Barkley pinch a play consecutive retired of a video crippled connected a one-handed 25-yard TD drawback — reminiscent of New York Jets receiver Garrett Wilson’s catch past week — precocious successful nan 4th that stretched nan Eagles’ lead to 28-16.

In immoderate different game, Smith would person snagged nan apical spot connected nan societal media item video.

Barkley had 1 elephantine leap — perchance only nan second-coolest move of nan week by nan moving backmost aft he played play pinch former President Barack Obama — that showed why nan Eagles signed him distant from New York and made him nan highest-paid backmost successful franchise history pinch a three-year woody for $26 cardinal guaranteed.

“I consciousness God gave maine expertise to play this position. He gave maine immoderate instincts,” Barkley said. "Sometimes you conscionable gotta fto spell and fto your God-given instincts return over.”

Sirianni laughed arsenic he said he needed to double-check nan supersized videoboard to make judge he really did spot Barkley make nan improbable possible.

“What I deliberation is truthful cool, is location are going to beryllium kids each complete nan state and each complete Philadelphia — I really deliberation astir that — trying to make that play and talking astir that play and simulating that play arsenic they play backyard shot aliases Pee Wee football," Sirianni said.

“They aren’t going to beryllium capable to make it because I deliberation he’s nan only 1 successful nan world that tin do that.”

From grassroots shot to nan Linc, there's only moving backmost who tin make that play.

And he wears No. 26 for nan Eagles.

Barkley — who besides mislaid a fumble that sparked a Jacksonville comeback — different vanished pinch a tremendous game. Barkley had 27 carries for 159 yards and a touchdown. He besides had 3 receptions for 40 yards and a TD.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL