RIGHT ’QUON TIME
With season finally set to open, Barkley ready to roll again
Saquon Barkley returned from a weekend off to find more than three dozen familiar faces had disappeared. A 53-player locker room felt somewhat desolate.
The rookie knew that training camp was through. Finally, he felt it.
No longer was the No. 2-overall pick getting ready for the season. Game preparation for Jacksonville had begun.
“It really hit me a little bit this morning, waking up, walking in the locker room, a lot of people being gone, knowing that now it’s for real, and it counts,” Barkley said following Monday’s practice. “I’m just excited to be back playing football, and start being a New York Giant again.”
It has been nearly four weeks since one of the most hyped players in franchise history has been seen in action. After impressing MetLife Stadium with a spectacular 39-yard run on his first touch of the preseason, Barkley received only three more carries that game.
After suffering a hamstring injury on Aug. 13, the 21-year-old rookie missed more than a week of practice and was held out of the final three preseason games.
Despite the lengthy layoff — and limited action — Barkley said there will be no limitations when he returns to take on the league’s second-ranked defense from last year.
“I definitely think I’m ready for a full load,” Barkley said. “The way I’ve been preparing, the way I’ve been practicing. We got a whole bunch of great backs in our room. That’s going to help us in that area, too. I’m just excited for the game, excited to get the season started.
“There was only one [ preseason] week where I was sure I wasn’t playing. But the rest, I was preparing just in case. You never know. I did get my practice reps, I was back on my normal schedule within preseason, and I felt pretty good throughout camp.”
Barkley feels physically better than most since he hasn’t been tackled since the preseason opener against the Browns. The rookie, who played just six preseason snaps, said his hamstring — and the lack of hits — is not a concern.
“I still was able to take the physical contact within practice. I just didn’t go down to the ground,” Barkley said. “I got a little bit of it within the Browns. But, I feel I’m in really good physical football shape, because in practice, doing a little extra stuff with [Jonathan Stewart] on the sideline — running, conditioning.
“I feel pretty good. I don’t think anyone can say they’re completely 100 percent, but I think I’m the best that I can feel.”
The fans felt as good when they watched Barkley dance and sprint for an eye-popping, preseasonopening run. The skyline-high expectations elevated even higher. The collection of skeptics who wanted the Giants to take a quarterback instantly shrunk.
One month later, Barkley finally has the chance to make them all feel that way again.
“I’m excited to show the team because, obviously, I only got a little bit of playing time there,” Barkley said. “I was able to make some plays happen in practice. I got to still be aware that it’s a long season and you have to take it game by game, and day by day. I’m just trying to get as ready as I can for this game — mentally and physically — and try the best that I can do, and try to do whatever I can do for my team to help them come out with a win.”
“I definitely think I’m ready for a full load. The way I’ve been preparing, the way I’ve been practicing. ... I’m just excited for the game, excited to get the season started.” — Saquon Barkley