Wayne Gallman is ready to let his play do his talking

With the injury to Saquon Barkley, running back Wayne Gallman is seizing the opportunity to show people he can carry the Giants' run-game load.

Giants running back Wayne Gallman Jr. doesn’t want to talk, at least not verbally. 

He’s instead focused on letting his play do his talking for him starting this weekend when he steps into the starting lineup for the injured Saquon Barkley.  

“Hopefully I can show you [what I bring to the table],” Gallman told the media after Giants practice Wednesday. “I know I can do whatever is needed to help this offense win.”

With Barkley expected to miss four-eight weeks with a high ankle sprain that he suffered in the first half against Tampa Bay, Gallman knows that he has big shoes to fill. 

But he’s not trying to be Barkley. Instead, Gallman is going to be himself.

“I’m me and you guys are going to see that,” Gallman said.

Gallman did not take any offensive snaps against Buffalo in Week 2, but against Dallas and Tampa Bay, Gallman recorded seven rushes for 30 yards with one touchdown. 

In his three-year career, the 24-year-old has played in 31 games, with 169 attempts for 682 yards and two touchdowns.

"He’s kind of a twitchy guy," said heae coach Pat Shurmur of Gallman. "He does a good job of getting it up in the hole. He has good collision balance. He’s improved catching the football. He’s pretty good with our pass protection. He’s a good all-around player, and he’s going to be asked to do more."

With the injury to Barkley, Gallman expects and is excited to see more action, but is understandably not happy that his opportunity is coming at the expense of his teammate.

“It’s unfortunate for my brother to go out, but this is what I’ve prepared for,” Gallman said. “This is what I have been preparing for, so I’m ready for it.”

Gallman said that he is focusing on staying in the moment and using what he has learned from his past three years with the Giants to ease his transition. 

“Last year was big for me, a big learning experience, learning my role in the offense behind Saquon,” he said. “Now, just taking what I’ve learned, I get to go out there and run the ball a couple of times.”

That running game is going to be vital in slowing down Washington, a team that while 0-3 is still one Gallman said he and his teammates and coaches are taking very seriously.  

“It’s another team we have to beat, another rivalry that we have,” Gallman said. “It’s a big game we have to win, so I have to be prepared.”