‘HELL’ BENT
Out for year, Saquon already eyeing return
Saquon Barkley, being helped off the field Sunday, will not take another carry this season but he is already looking to next season. After the Giants’ worst fears were confirmed Monday when he was diagnosed with a torn ACL in his right knee, a determined Barkley took to Instagram.
‘Gonna be a hell of a story...’ — Saquon Barkley
Joe Judge hoped sharing what he could, from his personal experience, would in some way help Saquon Barkley realize there will be bright light at the end of this darkness.
Judge told his fallen star running back that during his own football career, he tore his anterior cruciate ligament and underwent knee surgery.
“I was a non-athlete … and I was able to get back on the field,’’ Judge said. “It didn’t really affect my play because I wasn’t any good to begin with.’’
Barkley is in a different athletic stratosphere, from Judge and most others playing in the NFL, and there is a long road to traverse before Barkley can again display his great physical gifts.
The news the Giants anticipated with dread was confirmed Monday after an MRI exam at the Hospital for Special Surgery. Barkley has a torn ACL in his right knee and is done for the season.
Barkley looked anguished as he was carted off the field and has not yet spoken publicly about this serious injury. He deleted every post on his Instagram account except a Kobe Bryant “Mamba Mentality” message on Sunday, and on Monday, he posted “Gonna be a hell of a story...” as he looks ahead to his comeback.
In addition to the torn ACL, Barkley also has a partial tear to the meniscus, a source confirmed, complicating the upcoming procedure and rehab. He will wait two to four weeks for the swelling and inflammation to subside before having reconstructive surgery. Barkley also suffered a strained medial collateral ligament, but that will heal without the aid of surgery.
“This is a young guy who is very physically gifted, there’s good doctors out there, he’s gonna get the best medical care possible,’’ Judge said. “We have a great training staff to help rehab him along the way and we’re going to do everything in our position as coaches to keep him involved, mentally sharp, and then when we finally get him back on the field physically obviously we’re gonna make sure we gear everything around his specific plan to get him going full speed at the right rate.
“I’ll tell you what, I wouldn’t fall asleep on 26. It’s going to be a helluva story.’’
The injury occurred on the first play of the second quarter of Sunday’s 17-13 loss to the Bears. Barkley, 23, will spend the remainder of his third NFL season on injured reserve. He finished up with 19 rushing attempts for 34 yards and six receptions for 60 yards. Following what typically is a one-year recovery cycle — some have come back more quickly — the hope by the Giants is he can return to form for the start of the 2021 season.
“They haven’t told me anything,’’ Judge said. “Everybody’s unique in these situations. Everybody’s body recovers differently. I would say this, his body is in a phenomenal spot that it’s going to be able to recover very well with the treatment they’ll give him . ... I know this guy is committed, he’s going to work really hard and he’s gonna do everything he can to get back.’’
It is difficult to imagine a more onerous way for the Judge coaching tenure to begin. The Giants are 0-2 for the fourth consecutive season, with three different head coaches. Another key offensive player, receiver Sterling Shepard, was forced out in Chicago with a foot injury that a source said is turf toe. Those type of injuries are usually measured in weeks, not days, and the expectation is Shepard will not be available for Sunday’s game against the 49ers at MetLife Stadium. This could be a situation Shepard misses multiple games.
Judge said Shepard has “a lowerlimb injury.’’
Heading into Week 3, the Giants are without their most talented player and a starting receiver.
“We can’t get caught in the ‘Well if Saquon was was back there, what would have happened’ or ‘If Shep was back there,’ ’’ receiver Golden Tate said. “Reality is unfortunately and we’re crushed we don’t have these guys right now. So next man up is gonna step out.’’
Barkley has a base salary in 2020 of $750,000 and counts $8.59 million against the salary cap. His four-year, $31.1 million rookie deal runs through 2021 — he will make $920,000 in base salary and count $10 million on the 2021 cap. This devastating injury greatly decreases the chances Barkley receives a contract extension entering his fourth NFL season.
“Saquon’s a tremendous player, we have even more respect for him as a person,’’ Judge said. “I personally hate it for this guy, as hard as he works and as much impact he has for this team.’’