Hammy whammy
GIANTS ROOKIE LIMPS OFF FIELD
It’s not Saquon’s famous “Saquads.” It’s his hamstring.
Prized Giants rookie running back Saquon Barkley tweaked his left hamstring in practice Monday morning, according to a source, suffering what head coach Pat Shurmur called “a mild strain” in a team press release.
“We’ll be smart with him as we move along here,” Shurmur said.
Barkley, the No. 2 overall pick in April’s draft, gingerly jogged off the field Monday after stretching out to make an impressive wheel-route catch of a Kyle Lauletta pass down the left sideline.
Barkley had his left leg wrapped the remainder of practice. And the Giants, who find every opportunity to hype up the electric Penn State product, deleted their up-close Twitter video of Barkley outrunning Alec Ogletree and Janoris Jenkins to catch Lauletta’s beautiful deep ball.
Barkley stretched out to make a fingertip catch and appeared to tweak the hamstring by overextending his leg and landing awkwardly.
Barkley did take the wrap off his leg eventually and walked slowly out of practice under his own power. But mid-afternoon Monday, ESPN first reported that Barkley had tweaked his hamstring but was considered “fine,” and the Daily News confirmed that characterization.
Still, any injury to Barkley is a concern. The Giants drafted him instead of a
quarterback at No. 2 overall to help Eli Manning win now, but running backs historically don’t have long shelf lives, so it was a risk, especially because Manning is 37 years old.
Barkley is a physical specimen and already has the nickname “Saquads” due to his incredibly muscular legs and the power, speed and quickness with which he runs. And Monday’s wheel route and incredible catch were examples of what makes him special.
But the Giants need Barkley to stay on the field.
The Giants planned to fly to Detroit later Monday for three days of practices against the Lions before Friday night’s second preseason game at Ford Field.
Shurmur already perhaps was going to continue to rest Odell Beckham Jr. against the Lions, and now he probably will have Barkley on the sidelines, too.
Better to be safe with a player so vital to this season’s success.