Giants' running back situation a bit muddled

The Giants may need Saquon Barkley back more than they realized.

While the running back seems to be on a path to return to game action on Monday night against the Bucs, the player who has stepped in for him during most of his four-game recovery from a sprained ankle was unable to participate in Wednesday’s workout. Devontae Booker, who injured his hip late in the win over the Raiders before the bye week, spent time with trainers on the side during the portion of the practice open to media viewing.

In a perfect world, the Giants would use both backs as Joe Judge has outlined.

"The focus for us would be more splitting the time in terms of sharing it and making sure we’re fresh," he said. "I don’t really go into a game ever looking that we have to get this guy this many reps, this guy this many reps, this guy this many touches. It’s let’s keep our guys fresh."

If Barkley and Booker are both unable to play, the Giants’ stable of running backs would include rookie Gary Brightwell, a pair of fullbacks in Eli Penny and Cullen Gillaspia, and possibly Jonathan Williams who has been on and off the practice squad this year but was re-signed to that group on Wednesday.

Not that they expect it to come to that. Barkley was healthy enough on Wednesday to participate in not just one practice but two. That’s how many times the team took the field as part of their normal midweek routine and one of the reasons why Judge said the Giants are "very encouraged" by Barkley’s progress since returning to workouts with the full team on Monday.

Having Barkley back on the field should help a struggling offense.

"He’s obviously a dynamic player for us and someone who’s capable of making a lot of those big, explosive plays," quarterback Daniel Jones said of Barkley.

But it’s not yet a sure thing, either.

"We’ll see how he progresses with the team throughout the week of practice," Judge said. "That will obviously give us the answer we need as far as him going to the game. I couldn’t give you an answer yes or no right now, but we will be able to have him out at practice with us."

Notes & quotes: LT Andrew Thomas (ankle/foot) was designated to return from injured reserve and able to practice with the team. That doesn’t necessarily mean he will be available for Monday’s game. The Giants have a 21-day window to add him to their active roster … Judge said K Graham Gano and LB Lorenzo Carter were excused from meetings and practices while dealing with a stomach bug . . Veteran LB Benardrick McKinney was signed to the active roster from the practice squad.

By Tom Rock

tom.rock@newsday.com@TomRock_Newsday

Tom Rock began covering sports for Newsday in 1996 and became its NFL columnist in 2022. He previously was Newsday's Giants beat writer beginning in 2008.