Saquon Barkley took the field for the Giants for the first time since Week 5 on Monday night, finally returning from an ankle injury that halted any momentum he was building since coming back from last year’s ACL injury.
Now, in a way, Barkley feels like he is back to square one.
“It’s not the banged-up thing, just getting my feet caught back up again,” Barkley said after New York’s 30-10 loss on Monday night. “It’s a little frustrating, having to sit out again and come back. I felt like how it was in Week 1, getting my feet caught back up. But that’s what comes with missing a little time, just getting my body back.”
Barkley logged 26 rushing yards in a Week 1 loss to Denver, his first game action since Week 2 of last season. On Monday, after missing over a month with the ankle injury, Barkley rushed six times for 25 yards, while making a six receptions for 31 yards out of the backfield. The six catches matched a season high, but his rushing output was the lowest since the season opener, while his six rushed were the lowest of the season aside from his two rushes in Week 5, when he was knocked out of the game after suffering the ankle injury.
“I was upset with the outcome, but it feels good to get back out there and play the sport that I love,” Barkley said. “Just have to come back to work and get better next week.”
If Barkley is once again forced to slowly build his was back to full strength, there may not be many weeks left in the season where the Giants get a good look at the real Barkley. But as we learned earlier in the season, the Giants certainly won’t rush it, and Barkley himself will make sure he’s not skipping any steps in getting back to 100 percent.
“I’m just gonna do whatever it takes to get my body back, get my brain, my legs and my feet caught up together, and that starts with this week,” Barkley said. “Just take it one day at a time and take the time to get better.”
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
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