Saquon Barkley insists the Monstars did not take his football powers away.
The first time Barkley touched the ball Sunday, he gained 1 yard on a reception. His second touch was a rushing attempt for a 1-yard gain. Next, a run for no yards. The Giants have a new offensive coordinator, but the same old problems with Barkley and their rushing attack were evident in the 13-7 victory over the Eagles at MeLife Stadium.
The final stats say Barkley had 13 rushing attempts for 40 yards, an average of 3.1 yards per carry. Not good. It was actually worse than that. His only bright moment was a 32-yard burst in the second quarter, where there was no room to run up the middle and Barkley bounced the play to the left side to find running room. One run for 32 yards, 12 runs for a total of 8 yards.
Did the one long run convince Barkley he can still do it, coming off knee surgery and, more recently, a sprained ankle?
“I already know I can do it,’’ Barkley said. “A win is a win, but I know I’m going to continue to get better and better each week and each day. Continue to trust myself, trust my body, but I know it’s not like — what’s the “Space Jam” monster’s name — it’s not like something came and just took everything away from him. I’ve still got it. I’ve just got to do it more. I’ve got to be more productive in the run game for us. We’ve got to be more productive in the run game as a whole.’’
The Giants committed a season-low two accepted penalties for 15 yards. … S Logan Ryan missed his second straight game on the Reserve/COVID-19 list but is expected back for the next game, in Miami.
The Eagles would have been in prime position to win if WR Jalen Reagor was able to hold onto a Jalen Hurts pass to the 1-yard line in the closing minute. Reagor had two drops on the final series. “Just two drops that I would say that are very uncharacteristic, but I just have to go through the highs and the lows and go to the next week and make those plays,’’ Reagor said. The 2020 first-round pick had two catches for 31 yards.
CB Adoree’ Jackson hurt his quad covering a deep ball to Quez Watkins in the second quarter and had to leave the field. Jackson was able to return but lasted only four snaps before he was forced out again. His replacement, Darnay Holmes, was forced out early in the third quarter with a chest injury. That meant rookie Aaron Robinson received his most extensive workload of the season.
Lorenzo Carter, after missing three consecutive games with an ankle injury, was reinserted into the starting lineup opposite rookie Azeez Ojulari at outside linebacker. Rookie Quincy Roche had been starting. Carter crushed Hurts on one play — Hurts did not have the ball — and had only one tackle and no quarterback hits or pressures.