Barkley may be back sooner than expected

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. >> Don’t be surprised if New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley is back in the lineup a lot sooner than expected.

Just 10 days after sustaining a high sprain to his right ankle, Barkley worked out with a trainer on the field Wednesday and appeared to move well as the Giants (2-2) got ready to practice for Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings (2-2).

Barkley did not practice with the team and coach Pat Shurmur said after the workout the 2018 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year is making progress. The team will watch him this week to determine his status.

There had been reports Barkley might miss up to two months with the injury.

Shurmur scoffed at those on Wednesday.

“Some people’s doctors had him at eight weeks,” Shurmur said. “Not my doctors.”

The 22-year-old Barkley is in fabulous physical shape. Most people recall him on the Giants’ sideline with crutches and a walking boot on his foot in the second half of New York’s 32-31 win over the Buccaneers on Sept. 22. He tweeted a picture of himself without the walking boot Sunday.

Barkley was not in the locker room after practice and unavailable for comment.

Teammates were not surprised by his apparently quick recovery.

“I think his body is just made in a lab, I don’t know,” tight end Evan Engram said of Barkley. “I’m happy, though, it was good to see. I’m glad everything is coming along recovery-wise, and now it’s just being smart with it and not trying to rush anything.”

Darnold returns to practice, still not cleared for contact

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Sam Darnold was back on the field, breaking down the pre-practice huddle and tossing passes while looking as though he hadn’t missed a beat.

The New York Jets and their quarterback still need to wait before they know if he can play in a game.

Darnold practiced Wednesday for the first time since being diagnosed with mononucleosis three weeks ago. He still hasn’t been cleared for physical contact or lifting weights, leaving his availability for New York’s game at Philadelphia on Sunday uncertain.

“I like our odds better than what they’ve been,” coach Adam Gase said. “Last week, if we would have been playing a game, I would have said it was really low. I like the fact that things have looked and progressed in the right direction . ... There’s just some gray there still.”

Darnold was listed as a limited participant at practice, but wide receivers Robby Anderson and Jamison Crowder both gave the quarterback positive reviews.

“He looked good,” Anderson said. “He looked comfortable. To me, I didn’t feel like he was away.”

Added Crowder: “He’s been out three or four weeks, but first day back, coming off the bye week, I thought today was really good.”

Gase said Darnold will have additional tests Friday and the team will lean on the doctors to determine what the quarterback can do physically. The size of the quarterback’s spleen is being monitored. Swelling of the organ is a common symptom of mononucleosis. Damage to the spleen, including a rupture, is a serious and, in some cases, life-threatening situation, so the Jets and Darnold are being cautious.