Will Saquon Barkley play Monday night? The latest on NY Giants star RB is promising
EAST RUTHERFORD - New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley's availability for "Monday Night Football" against the Seattle Seahawks remains uncertain.
After watching Barkley on the field Friday during the media viewing period, though, his chances of actually playing appear to be increasing.
He was back on the practice field and back in pads for the first time Thursday since he sprained his right ankle late in the Giants' victory over the Arizona Cardinals. How much he does in the days leading up to the game and, most importantly, how he feels will determine just how much of a decision Barkley and the Giants will have to make as to whether he returns to play against Seattle.
Barkley was back at it again Friday, and showed more burst than he did the previous day during position drills, with Giants coach Brian Daboll saying that he looked good on Thursday.
"He's an important part of our team, for sure," quarterback Daniel Jones said of Barkley following Thursday's practice. "But he's working as hard as he can to get back and if he's ready to go, I’m sure he’ll be out there."
A sign that Barkley is progressing: conversely, star left tackle Andrew Thomas appeared uncomfortable at times during Thursday's media viewing period and spent Friday morning inside to get treatment for his hamstring rather than going through the practice paces again.
That was not the case for Barkley. It was actually the opposite, which is a promising sign.
The implications for the Giants against Seattle (2-1) are significant, both on the field and off. They are 1-2 and set to face three opponents that were playoff teams last year, beginning with the Seahawks and followed by trips to Miami and Buffalo the following two weeks.
It was widely reported following Barkley's MRI in Arizona last week that he sustained a low ankle sprain, and that he was considered week to week. Before Thursday night's game against the 49ers, Amazon Prime Video reported Barkley had revealed to their reporter, Taylor Rooks, that he sustained a high ankle sprain, which typically comes with a longer recovery period.
What we saw from Barkley on Friday
Barkley spent time during the special teams period that opened practice doing a lot of stationary work. He caught passes from practice squad quarterback Tommy DeVito before joining the wide receivers (and cornerback Adoree' Jackson) for a drill during which they ran a straight line vertical route.
When the individual periods began, Barkley joined the quarterbacks for the second straight day and took a variety of handoffs from Daniel Jones, displaying more intensity with his steps and cuts with the football in his hands. The running backs then went to the far corner of the team's field house, and Barkley showed both short area quickness and acceleration during a drill just as the media viewing period ended.
What we saw from Barkley on Thursday
Barkley spent the early part of Thursday's media viewing session doing agility exercises with an assistant coach. He tested his lateral quickness and movement, then continued his work on an adjacent field, presumably to see how his ankle would respond.
Barkley wound up joining the quarterbacks and the other running backs for individual drills, taking a few handoffs and a pitch from Jones, going half-speed. Barkley and the rest of the backs then went to work on their own position drills when the quarterbacks joined the wide receivers and tight end Darren Waller for routes in a throwing period.
The Giants officially listed Barkley as a limited participant, which means he took fewer snaps than what would be considered his normal workload. He was not available for interviews in the locker room after practice, but he usually speaks the day after Jones does his weekly interviews. Those were conducted Thursday as the Giants began their practice week; they'll practice again Friday and Saturday with meetings and a walkthrough session Sunday in advance of Monday's game, which kicks off at 8:20 p.m.
The Giants ran the ball just 11 times with Matt Breida and Gary Brightwell – their lowest single-game total since 1989 – against the 49ers with Barkley sidelined. Breida scored the Giants' lone touchdown in the game.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Saquon Barkley injury update: Will NY Giants RB play Monday night?
