Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley was scheduled for an MRI after a stinger forced him out of Sunday's win over the Tennessee Titans twice, ESPN's Tim McManus reported, according to NBC Sports. As of Monday, the Eagles had not shared the results.

Barkley was hurt on his first carry, a run up the middle that Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons stuffed for no gain. He was slow to get up, appeared to favor his left arm, and spent several minutes in the medical tent before missing the rest of the first half, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. He returned for the first series of the second half, left again after a few snaps, and did not come back. Backup Tank Bigsby scored on a 2-yard run in the Eagles' 24-20 win in Nashville.

Barkley declined to be interviewed after the game but said, "I'm all right. We'll know more later in the week."

A stinger sounds minor, and most are. But the injury is also common in high school and youth football, and parents need to know which symptoms usually fade and which ones mean a player should not go back in.

Inside a Stinger: A Stretched or Pinched Nerve

According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, stingers, also called burners, happen when nerves in the neck and shoulder are stretched or compressed after an impact. The injury involves the brachial plexus, the network of nerves that controls movement and feeling in the shoulder, arm, and hand.

A stinger often happens when the head is forced sideways and down, bending the neck and pinching nearby nerves. AAOS says tackling and blocking in football are the activities most often linked to stingers. A narrow spinal canal, a condition called spinal stenosis, can raise the risk.

The name comes from the feeling. Athletes describe a burning or electric shock sensation that shoots from the shoulder down the arm, sometimes with numbness, weakness, or warmth. In most cases, the symptoms are temporary and fade quickly.

Stingers typically affect one side of the body. That detail matters, because AAOS lists symptoms in both arms among the findings that call for a more extensive examination rather than a quick return.

Barkley's afternoon followed a familiar pattern: an arm held close after contact, a medical tent evaluation, and a return to the sideline wearing a neck roll known as a cowboy collar, the Inquirer reported. AAOS notes that this kind of padding may help players who are prone to stingers.

Returning to Play Versus Sitting Out

AAOS guidance on returning is direct. Treatment starts by removing the athlete from further injury, and players should not go back until symptoms are completely gone, which can take minutes or several days. Athletes with weakness or neck pain should not return to play.

The reason Barkley left a second time has not been explained publicly, and outsiders should not guess. In general, symptoms that return or linger after a player goes back in are a signal for medical staff to stop and re-examine.

If symptoms last several days, AAOS says an athlete may need a trainer or therapist to restore strength and motion. Players with repeated stingers may be fitted with a special neck roll or raised shoulder pads. Before clearing a player, medical staff generally recheck strength in the shoulder, arm, and hand, since weakness can outlast the burning sensation.

Warning Signs That Call for Imaging

Most stingers do not need scans. AAOS says X-rays, MRI, and nerve studies are not usually necessary, but a more thorough workup is needed when weakness lasts more than several days, the athlete has neck pain, symptoms appear in both arms, or there is a history of repeated stingers.

That context matters when reading about Barkley's MRI. A scan after a stinger does not by itself mean the injury is serious. It lets doctors look at the discs, nerve roots, and spinal canal before clearing a player for more contact, especially a running back who absorbs hits on nearly every carry.

For young athletes, the difference between a stinger and a spinal injury is the most important thing to know. Burning or tingling in one arm that clears completely within minutes is the classic stinger. Symptoms in both arms, symptoms in the legs, neck pain, or weakness that does not go away require urgent evaluation, and the athlete should not be moved until trained help arrives.

Parents can ask coaches whether their child's shoulder pads and helmet fit properly and whether the team teaches tackling technique that keeps the head out of contact. A sports medicine physician or school athletic trainer should clear any player whose symptoms did not fully resolve. The American Academy of Pediatrics' HealthyChildren.org offers a parent-focused overview.

The Eagles face the Chicago Bears next, on Monday night, and this week's injury reports should show whether Barkley practices. Until the MRI results are shared, the confirmed facts are limited: he had a stinger, he tried to return, and he says he feels all right. The larger lesson for families is simple. A quick recovery is typical, but lingering or two-sided symptoms are never routine.

Key Questions Answered

What happened to Saquon Barkley? Barkley suffered a stinger on his first carry against the Titans on Sept. 20, missed the rest of the first half, returned briefly in the second half, and left again. An MRI was scheduled, according to ESPN's Tim McManus.

What is a stinger? A stinger, or burner, is a stretch or compression injury to the nerves of the neck and shoulder, known as the brachial plexus. It causes burning or electric shock pain down one arm.

How long do stinger symptoms last? Most fade within minutes, but some last several days. AAOS says athletes should not return to play until symptoms are completely gone.

Does an MRI mean the injury is serious? Not necessarily. AAOS says imaging is usually reserved for weakness lasting several days, neck pain, symptoms in both arms, or repeated stingers.

Which symptoms need emergency care? Symptoms in both arms or in the legs, neck pain, or weakness that does not go away can point to a more serious spine injury and need urgent evaluation.

Can stingers be prevented? Properly fitted equipment, neck rolls for players with repeated stingers, and tackling technique that keeps the head out of contact can help lower the risk.