Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
Saquon Barkley Has No Doubts About Potentially Handling a Full Workload if Cleared to Return
Giants running back Saquon Barkley wouldn’t come right out and say he’s playing Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals.
Instead, he let the fact that he’s put in two solid days of practice by taking his full workload of reps do the talking for him.
“I feel pretty good,” he said while standing in front of his locker Thursday. “Taking it day by day. This week of practice, obviously, you guys all know that I’ve been fully participating, and I’m feeling good, but still taking it day by day. Just hopefully trying to get out there for my teammates.”
Barkley, who suffered a high ankle sprain in a Week 3 win over the Bucs which left him on crutches, was initially thought to be headed for at least a four- to eight-week absence.
But the Giants--head coach Pat Shurmur and Barkley--never attached a time frame in which the running back, who despite his three game-absence, still leads the Giants’ rushing attack with 237 yards on 37 carries.
Barkley, who shortly after sustaining the injury spoke about wanting to come back as quickly as possible, has amazed on-lookers with the speed of his recovery.
Last week as the Giants were preparing on a short week to face the Patriots, Barkley was listed as a limited participant in practice.
This week, he took the big step forward by not only taking his full practice reps but having no ill side effects from the increased activity.
“With this injury, obviously day by day and week by week, you continue to get better,” he said. “But you really can’t tell because last week I was taking reps individually and I was running routes. But it’s different when you actually have to react and make cuts going against the scout team and going against the defense.”
“So, that’s the biggest difference; I’m actually practicing this week, and I get to actually feel making those cuts and preparing myself for the game.”
Having seen that his ankle can hold up, Barkley is also feeling good about taking on a full workload--if, of course, he’s cleared to play.
“No doubt in my mind,” he said. “I know that even if I want to be out there as much as I can, it’s ultimately really not up to me; it’s going to be up to the team doctors and the trainers and coaches.
“I know that I feel confident enough that whatever they need my role, my responsibility, to be, I’m going to be able to do it for the team.”
When he does return to the field, Barkley, who dating back to his college days at Penn State, didn’t miss much time due to injury, said he’ll have a newfound appreciation for the game which he has missed.
“Yeah, it’s going to be more just appreciation because when you actually get the game taken away from you--and don’t get me wrong, I know it’s not a season-ending injury--but when you’re passionate about this game and have to step away from it, it makes you understand how much you actually care and appreciate this game,” he said.
“So, it’s just is appreciating the game and (be someone who) is trying to do whatever it takes for the team to win.”
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