Saquon Barkley Making Progress Toward Return

New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley is well aware of the team's current state.

But for anyone expecting Barkley, who is in a contract year, to be looking to milk his high ankle sprain and delay his return to the field, think again.

"It sucks because, as a competitor, you want to be out there," he said Thursday, watching the offense struggle without him. "It’s not like more of the mindset of I want to be out there; it's going to change something. It's more of the mindset of just seeing your guys fight, and you can do nothing about it.

"I think it's important for me to get back out there, especially where we are in the season, and I feel like I can make an impact, and hopefully, I can show that."

Barkley, who has been a limited participant in practice the last couple of weeks, said he's been trending in the right direction toward a return, something that the Giants would no doubt welcome given how Bakrley's talents can help turbocharger an offense.

"I felt better last Wednesday and Thursday, this Thursday, Wednesday than last Wednesday and Thursday," he said. "But when you have injuries, sometimes it takes time. Like I said, just been listening to the trainers, coming in here and trying to do everything I can, and taking it day by day."

Whereas Barkley has always been somewhat impatient regarding his injuries, this time around, he's been playing it smart and listening to the medics and his body. While ideally, he'd like for his anke to be fully healed, he knows that the time frame that could take doesn't allow for that.

Daniel Jones Misses Second Practice This Week

"A fully healed ankle, I don't want to talk like a doctor, but it’s what, six to eight weeks? For it to fully scar in and do everything. So, I don't think it would be in my best interest to sit out and just let it fully scar in," he said.

"I've played with this before. You can play with it. Sometimes, you feel it when you make a cut; sometimes, you don't. Every week, it gets better. You’ve just got to hope you don't backtrack, and that's what I've just been doing--listening to the trainers, listening to the staff, go out there, take the reps I can take, feel it out, and every week just try to get better."

Barkley shook his head no when asked if the current injury situation with quarterback Daniel Jones (neck) would be a factor in his return.

"I don't think that plays a factor in this if DJ can go or not," he said. "Just me as a competitor, I want to be out there. I feel like that win, lose, or draw. I like playing football. We get paid for it, but I've been doing it since I was a kid. I enjoy it.

"The other stuff is not fun, the business side, and you’ve got to hear people say this and say that, but going out there and playing the game you love is always fun to me. That's what pushes me and motivates me to go out there, and also, being a leader on the team."

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