PHILADELPHIA -- The Eagles will face Saquon Barkley for the first time on Thursday night. The first of many.
It will both be Barkley's first exposure to the bitter Eagles-Giants NFC East rivalary, and the Eagles' first exposure to the much-hyped rookie running back they'll be seeing plenty of going forward, at least twice per season.
Barkley has only played in five games since being drafted No. 2 overall in April out of Penn State, but he's already impressed key members of the Eagles' defensive unit.
"I haven't seen a running back like that in a long time," said Eagles defensive end Michael Bennett, a 10-year veteran.