Head coach Doug Pederson said Monday that Barner will be active moving forward due to multiple injuries hitting the backfield during Sunday's game against the Redskins, Dave Zangaro of CSN Philadelphia reports.
The Eagles took a number of hits to running backs in Week 14, namely a concussion for Darren Sproles and a Grade 2 MCL sprain for Wendell Smallwood. Pederson's options have thus been whittled down to the injury-prone Ryan Mathews and Barner, who was curiously inactive Sunday. Barner impressed as a kick returner in the previous four contests, reeling off 31.4 yards per on seven runbacks. He's otherwise been used sparsely on offense as a professional, with 58 carries for 254 yards, 14 catches (on 20 targets) for 46 yards, and two touchdowns in 31 career games. If Sproles remains in the concussion protocol through this weekend, expect Barner to receive a boost in relevance as Mathews' primary backup.