Giants' Saquon Barkley excited to go against Cowboys' Ezekiel Elliott
Giants running back Saquon Barkley carries in the second half of an NFL game against the Saints in New Orleans on Oct. 3. Credit: AP/Brett Duke
The two premier running back talents in the NFC East will be on display Sunday. That’s actually a rarity.
While their teams face off twice a year every year, this meeting between Saquon Barkley and Ekeziel Elliott is unusual in that it pits them in a head-to-head meeting with both at full strength. You have to go back to their first ever clash in Week 2 of 2018 for the last time that’s happened.
Since then injuries, contractual holdouts and even a strategic Week 17 rest with a Cowboys postseason bid already in hand have prevented the two players from clashing while in top form.
On Sunday, nothing like that will be in their way.
Barkley, for his part, is excited by this.
"He’s one of my favorite players to watch, one of my favorite players to go against," Barkley said on Thursday, noting that their on-field rivalry goes all the way back to their time at Ohio State and Penn State. "I’ve always been a big fan. To see him come back and show the world that he is still elite, still that guy, which everyone pretty much knew, I’m just happy for him and look forward to seeing him Sunday."
Unlike Barkley, who is coming back from a serious injury, Elliott is simply coming back from a poor season by his standards in 2020. Last week, though, Elliott ran for 143 yards and a touchdown against the Panthers.
"The thing I notice about him is how hard he’s running," Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham said. "This guy knows how to carry the ball."
Barkley had a breakthrough performance a week ago, too. He had 126 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns, including the game-winner in overtime against the Saints. It was the most productive and dynamic Barkley has been since his return from ACL surgery last year.
"Some of the [types of] plays he’s made throughout his career we saw that in the early part of the season," offensive coordinator Jason Garrett said, "but that game the other day we saw him make some great space plays but also some tough runs inside."
All of which should make Sunday a must-watch game for connoisseurs of running back play. Barkley included.
"As a competitor, you tend to look up when you go against a guy like that and see what he’s doing," Barkley said. "It helps motivate you and pushes you to do a little better."
Notes & quotes: Joe Judge said the team would have "a strong feeling" about the availability of Sterling Shepard, Darius Slayton and Jabrill Peppers — all sidelined by hamstring injuries — coming out of Thursday’s practice, but none of the three participated in the workout. Instead they looked to be progressing while working with trainers on a side field … LT Andrew Thomas (foot) and DL Leonard Williams (knee) returned to practice on Thursday after sitting out Wednesday. Judge said they needed the extra day to recover from the Saints game on Sunday and did not seem overly concerned about their availability for the Cowboys game.
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.
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