Giants’ Barkley done for ’20
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — A major knee injury has ended Saquon Barkley’s season.
The Giants (0-2) said Monday that an MRI exam in a New York City hospital confirmed Barkley had torn his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, meaning he would not play again in 2020.
First-year Giants coach Joe Judge said backups Dion Lewis and Wayne Gallman would replace the 2018 NFL offensive rookie of the year.
Barkley will have to wait for the swelling in his knee to subside before having surgery, which the team said would be in the near future.
Barkley was hurt near the Chicago sideline after trying to fend off Bears safety Eddie Jackson on a 6-yard carry early in the second quarter. The No. 2 overall draft choice in 2018 dragged his right leg behind him as he was helped back across the field to the Giants sideline.
McCaffrey will be out for weeks
Panthers All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey is expected to miss “multiple weeks” with a high right ankle sprain he sustained in Carolina’s 31-17 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.
High ankle sprains are generally considered a fourto six-week injury, but Panthers coach Matt Rhule said he had no timeline for McCaffrey’s return.
The Panthers (0-2) will turn to Mike Davis as their starting running back when they visit the Chargers this Sunday. It’s possible the team could sign Reggie Bonnafon — McCaffrey’s primary backup last season — from the practice squad to provide depth.
In two games this season, McCaffrey has run for 156 yards and four touchdowns and caught seven passes for 67 yards.
3 coaches, clubs fined over masks
A person with knowledge of the punishment tells the Associated Press that at least three NFL head coaches have been fined $100,000 for violating the league’s rules that they wear face coverings on the sideline.
The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the league wasn’t announcing specific fines, said Denver’s Vic Fangio, San Francisco’s Kyle Shanahan and Seattle’s Pete Carroll were each docked $100,000. Their teams were fined $250,000 each.
More fines could be coming as several other coaches violated the league’s rules requiring coaches to wear coverings over their mouths and noses at all times. Players are exempt from these protocols.
Niners hampered by key injuries
The injury bug that has disrupted the San Francisco 49ers’ season seems impossible to contain.
The 49ers had to wait a few extra hours to confirm that 2019 Defensive Rookie of the Year Nick Bosa and fellow starting defensive lineman Solomon Thomas had season-ending torn ACLs in their knees.
Along with the injuries to two starting defensive linemen, the Niners are also dealing with a high ankle sprain to quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo that likely will sideline him this week, a sprained MCL that has shut down running back Raheem Mostert and injuries to running back Tevin Coleman (knee), defensive tackle D.J. Jones (ankle) and linebacker Dre Greenlaw (thigh) that all came during a 31-13 win against the New York Jets on Sunday.
Odds and ends
Broncos quarterback Drew Lock could be out until midseason with a severely bruised throwing shoulder. His Pro Bowl wide receiver, Courtland Sutton, tore his left ACL in his season debut Sunday at Pittsburgh and is done for the season. … Colts safety Malik Hooker will miss the rest of this season with a torn Achilles tendon. … Vikings four-time Pro Bowl linebacker Anthony Barr will miss the remainder of the season because of a torn pectoral muscle.