Candidates who could help during Saquon Barkley’s absence

Giants running back Saquon Barkley is expected to miss several weeks with a high ankle sprain. Here's a look at five names, two from the Giants practice squad and three free agents, who could be called upon to provide some depth to the Giants undermanned backfield.

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The Giants got a mix of good news-bad news regarding running back Saquon Barkley's high ankle sprain suffered in Sunday's Week 3 win over the Bucs.

The good news is that Barkley should be able to return later in the year as the injury wasn't season-ending. 

The bad news is he could be looking at missing up to eight weeks while he heals--and even then, there's no guarantee he'll be back to his pre-injury self until after he gets a chance to fully rest that ankle in the off-season.

The Giants, meanwhile, will need to add another running back to a group that right now includes Wayne Gallman and Eli Penny. Here is a look at five names that could come under consideration to provide depth.

Jon Hilliman, 5-foot-11, 216 pounds, Rutgers

Hilliman was with the Giants this summer and finished as the team’s second-leading rusher, behind Paul Perkins. 

Hilliman, who missed some time with an injury, recorded 80 rushing yards on 25 carries and a team-leading two rushing touchdowns. He also recorded six receptions for 36 yards.

In Inside Football’s final preseason game issue, we wrote that we liked Hilliman’s vision and decision-making with the ball, and his urgency and reliability under pressure, and thought that he had decent size and build, and natural running skills that could turn into something with more experience.

Hilliman has been on the Giants practice squad after being part of the roster cuts to 53-men earlier in the month.

Austin Walter, 5-foot-8, 190 pounds, Rice

Walter went undrafted this year but was signed by the 49ers in May. He participated in the 49ers’ training camp this summer but was waived on August 31.

This summer with the 49ers, Walter finished as the team's second-best rusher (36 carries for 125 yards and one touchdown). He also caught six passes for 490 yards, with a long of 9 yards.

Walter was in competition with Jeff Wilson, Jr. this summer for the final spot on the 49ers roster. Wilson ended up edging Walter out for a roster spot.

C.J. Anderson, 5-foot-8, 225 pounds, California

Anderson spent the first five years of his career in Denver, where current Giants receivers coach Tyke Tolbert also worked.

Anderson also made stops with the Panthers, Raiders, and Rams in 2018 and the Lions more recently.

Anderson, who has rushed for 3,497 yards on 776 carries and 22 touchdowns and who has 900 receiving yards on 108 receptions with five touchdowns in his career, was dropped by the Lions when they were awarded former Giant running back Paul Perkins off waivers.

A possible reason for that could be Anderson’s inability to convert on short-yardage or to gain first downs—on 16 carries for the Lions, he gained just one first down.

Based on his career production, Anderson’s numbers have dipped significantly from his days in Denver, but if the Giants just need an occasional fill-in, he could be worth a look.

Cameron Artis-Payne, 5-10, 215 pounds, Auburn

The Giants have shown a propensity to recruit former Panthers in times of need. Cameron Artis-Payne would fall into the former category, having spent four seasons with Carolina where he rushed for 491 yards on 118 carries and five touchdowns and had ten catches for 86 yards.

Artis-Payne, who had signed a one-year contract in Carolina, was the odd man out in the Panthers backfield after this preseason as there was no room for him thanks to the emergence of Jordan Scarlett, Elijah Holyfield (since waived) and Reggie Bonnafon over the summer.

Artis-Payne, a fifth-round pick by Carolina in 2015, can also fill Gallman’s spots on special teams if Gallman sees a reduction in that role due to an increased number of snaps on offense. Artis-Payne has played in 341 special teams snaps over the last two seasons according to Pro Football Focus.

Alfred Morris, 5-foot-10, 222 lbs., Florida Atlantic

Morris, the one-time Washington running back, was cut by the Cowboys to make room for Zeke Elliott after he ended his summer-long holdout. Morris has 1,373 carries for 5,931 yards and 34 touchdowns and has 65 receptions for 494 yards.

Morris had a workout last week for the Cardinals following the wrist injury suffered by David Johnson but didn’t sign.

Morris has minimal special teams experience, so his signing might be a long shot but historically, he’s been solid in pass protection, which is a requisite the Giants want in a running back.