New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley was activated from the PUP list on Monday and participated in practice for the first time since tearing his ACL last September. A sight for the franchise's sore eyes.
And while it's still unknown whether the former first-round pick will be ready to play in the team's regular season opener next month -- Barkley expressed optimism to reporters -- former Giants offensive lineman David Diehl is excited about Barkley's return, presence, and potential.
"I think he's in tremendous shape right now," Diehl told the Tiki and Tierney show on Tuesday. "If you think about it, if you get hurt, at least you want to do it early in the season. He did it Week 2 last year. They were able to let the swelling go down before he got surgery and had the full time to rehab. And the thing everybody has to take into account, he's coming off of an injury and this is a season unlike any other, because it's a 17-game schedule this year.
"That's a completely different grind, especially when you talk about the impact and the hits a running back takes. So, I think they were smart during the offseason to get Devontae Booker to be that backup who can be a role player if Saquon's not ready or 100-percent in Week 1. But we know he's the catalyst for this football team and offense. And this'll be the true test, when he's back fully healthy, if Daniel Jones is the franchise quarterback or not."
As the Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2018, Barkley became the third player in NFL history to surpass 2,000 all-purpose yards (2,028) during their debut season. The 24-year-old also scored 15 total touchdowns in 16 games, and was named to the NFC's Pro Bowl roster.
The past two years weren't kind to Barkley, as he missed 17 of 32 possible games due to his season-ending knee injury in 2020 and a high ankle sprain in 2019. New York picked up Barkley's fifth-year option back in April, and he's projected to make $7.2 million in 2022, per Spotrac.
The Giants open up the 2021 campaign at home against the Denver Broncos on Sept. 12. According to the William Hill Sportsbook, New York currently has the third-best odds (+425) to win the NFC East.
The entire Giants conversation between Diehl and Tiki and Tierney can be accessed in the audio player above.
You can follow the Tiki and Tierney Show on Twitter @TikiAndTierney and Tom Hanslin @TomHanslin.