New York Giants could be dangerous with Saquon Barkley return
If the New York Giants are going to reach the playoffs in 2021, it’ll largely be because of Saquon Barkley.
It’s been a long decade for the New York Giants. In Week 2 of last season, it was made even longer.
Aginst the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field, star running back Saquon Barkley tore his ACL. The season-ending injury might have been the difference between the Giants finishing in second place of the rancid NFC East, and hosting a playoff game.
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Entering 2021, New York has high hopes for its fourth-year Penn State product. After a phenomenal 2018 rookie campaign in which Barkley rushed for 1,307 yards and 11 touchdowns, he went for 1,003 rushing yards and six scores in ’19.
Predictably, without Barkley in the lineup, second-year quarterback Daniel Jones regressed. The former first-round pick threw 2,943 yards and 11 touchdowns against 10 interceptions, with defenses gearing up to tee off on the signal-caller.
It remains unclear if Barkley will return for Week 1 when the Giants host the Denver Broncos. However his activation off the PUP list on Monday portends hope. After practice, he talked to Kim Jones of NFL Network about where his head is:
“The only way you truly can get ready for that is by simulating it on the football field. When I’m able to do that, I know I have an unbelievable organization that I play for and unbelievable coach, that I don’t feel forced, unbelievable training staff that I don’t feel like they’re forcing me.
“I’m listening to my body and listening to myself, that whenever I’m able to play, whatever week it is, I’m going to be 100 percent confident in myself.”
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New York has a chance to make some noise with Barkley making yards from the backfield. He’s surrounded by a nice supporting cast including wide receivers Darius Slayton, Sterling Shepard, Kadarius Toney and big-ticket signing Kenny Golladay, along with tight ends Evan Engram and Kyle Rudolph. Paired with one of the league’s more intriguing defenses, and the Giants have potential in the NFC East.
Of course, all that is somewhat short-circuited if Barkley can’t play to his standard. New York is heavily reliant on Barkley to keep Jones in short down-and-distances, allowing him to make the easy throw instead of forcing the potential interception.
With one month until the regular season, there’s ample time for Barkley’s knee to become 100 percent. The Giants have to hope a month is enough.
