Saquon Barkley returns in limited capacity as Giants take 'smart' approach with his injury
Saquon Barkley said he feels ready to return to the field in a full capacity, but the rookie running back understands why the Giants are being cautious with him.
“Personally, the way I feel, my body feels, I’ll be honest, I feel good, I feel pretty good,” Barkley said after Wednesday's practice. “I’ve been moving really well, but that’s really what the trainers get paid for.”
The No. 2 overall selection in the NFL Draft returned to practice for individual drills and walkthroughs in a limited capacity Wednesday. He stretched with the team, took a few snaps with the first-team offense, ran routes and caught passes from Eli Manning. But Barkley spent most of the practice doing individual drills on the side and talking with teammates.
It appears highly unlikely Barkley will play in the third preseason game against the Jets Friday, but he said he hasn’t been told anything specific. Coach Pat Shurmur echoed what he has been saying since Barkley suffered a minor hamstring strain Aug. 13 at practice.
“We’ll see,” Shurmur said when discussing Barkley's return. “We’re going to be smart.”
Although Barkley would like to be back on the field as a full participant, he knows the cautious approach is for his long-term benefit. He referenced when Odell Beckham Jr. dealt with a hamstring injury as a rookie during the 2015 season.
“They tell me stories all the time,” Barkley said. “And you talk to other guys, like guys like Odell that hurt their hamstring before, it’s when you feel 100 percent and give it that push, boom, that’s when it happens again. It’s a setback, and I don’t want any setbacks at all.”
The Giants don’t want setbacks for him, either. Until then, Barkley is making the most of what he can observe. He said he’s always been able to learn on and off the field, and although most of his learning is coming from the sideline and film study at the moment, he wants to continue to improve and adapt to NFL speed.
Barkley admits he doesn’t know the offense 100 percent, but with his focus solely on “football and family,” he has more time to learn.
“Some guys that don’t take as many reps can still go out there, so I have to take that mindset,” Barkley said. “And when my time is called and I’m going to be able to play, I've got to be 100-percent ready.
“Obviously, I would love to be out there and to play as quickly as possible, but that’s part of the game,” he said. “Injuries are a part of a game.”
Whether he’s on the field or the sideline Friday, Barkley looks forward to sharing a field with the Jets, a team he grew up rooting for, with his father even getting a Jets tattoo.
“I don’t know what I’m doing [Friday],” Barkley said, “but just to be out there at MetLife, seeing my family and seeing the Jets, it’s kind of all coming full circle.”
It would be the second missed preseason game for Barkley as he waits on his goal of becoming one of the top backs in the league.
“Only thing I really have to worry about is going home and taking care of my family … so I kind of have no choice, especially with how good I want to be and how passionate I am about the game,” Barkley said. “That’s part of the life. I have to continue to grow and continue to get better.”
