How resting in Week 18 cost Eagles' Saquon Barkley $250,000

How resting in Week 18 cost Eagles' Saquon Barkley $250,000 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Nick Sirianni’s decision to rest the majority of the Philadelphia Eagles’ starters in Week 18 against the Washington Commanders cost his team a shot at the No. 2 seed in the NFC, and it cost Saquon Barkley $250,000.

Barkley entered Week 18 with 1,413 scrimmage yards on the season. The star running back has an incentive in his contract that nets him an additional $250,000 if he hits 1,500 scrimmage yards in a season. By not playing against Washington, he finished 87 yards shy of that total. 

With most starters, including Barkley, on the sideline, the Eagles lost their season finale, 24-17. They got the help they needed from the Detroit Lions, but ultimately it didn't matter.

As a result, the Eagles the No. 3 seed in the NFC, and they'll host the San Francisco 49ers at Lincoln Financial Field in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs on Sunday. 

If the Eagles advance past the Wild Card Round, they won't have any more guaranteed home games. As the No. 2 seed, they would've also had homefield advantage in the Divisional Round. 

Despite the ultimate outcome, Sirianni said that he doesn't regret rolling with the reserves against Washington. 

“No,” Sirianni replied when asked if he regretted the decision. “Again, you go through your process, you make what you think it the best decision for the football team and that’s what we did. I knew this was an outcome, that these things could happen. 

“Like I said to you guys, one thing I could guarantee was giving them rest. I couldn’t guarantee anything else. And us being healthy and going into the playoffs healthy, is a big deal for us. That’s served us well in the past."

The good thing is, by not playing, Barkley – and the rest of Philadelphia’s key contributors – avoided suffering any injuries in Week 18, so they’ll enter the postseason with health on their side.

This story will be updated.