Saquon Barkley took another valuable step forward toward his return from ACL surgery on Thursday, taking “some” hits during padded practice.
But that doesn’t mean the running back is a lock to play in the Giants season opener against the Broncos.
With opening weekend just 10 days away, Barkley still has a ways to go in terms of taking full contact, as head coach Joe Judge said earlier in camp that the oulook for Barkley wouldn’t clear up until he saw how Barkley took and absorbed contact in full pads.
Barkley didn’t go into how much contact he took on Thursday, so his status for Week 1 will remain up in the air.
“I feel good,” Barkley said. “Taking it one day at a time. I’m not even gonna try to think about if I look like my old self. I’m a very confident player. I know when I’m able to get back out there. maybe it might be one quarter, it might be one play, whatever the opportunity is, when I’m back out there, I know I’ll be able to go out there and be who I am and play how I am.”
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Perhaps Barkley, who hasn’t played since Week 2 of last season when he tore his ACL, could play in a more limited role next Sunday, since he didn’t get into any preseason action. Whatever it is, Barkley is confident that he will be back to his old self whenever he gets back on the field in game action.
“It might be one quarter, maybe it might be one play,” Barkley said. “Whatever the opportunity it is when I’m back there, I know I’m going to be able to go out there and be who I am and play how I am. Right now, I’m not focusing on if I’m making cuts, saying ‘Oh, is that how it was before?’ I’m focusing on getting in football shape and just living in the moment, enjoying the moment and playing football again.”
Barkley will be a crucial part of the Giants’ offense this season, but New York has been cautious with their star running back in his road back from surgery, and that won’t change, even as the season quickly approaches.
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