Former NFL head doctor David J Chao: Week 3 doubtful for Saquon Barkley
Saquon Barkley’s Week 3 status doesn’t look promising after he suffered a late injury against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. The New York Giants running back took a hit to his lower body and went down awkwardly before trainers helped him off the field.
According to David J. Chao, a former head physician for the San Diego Chargers, Barkley is doubtful to play in Week 3 against the 49ers. Even if the injury doesn’t turn out to be one that keeps him out long, he faces a short window to return with that game being on Thursday.
Barkley limped off the field and was careful not to put any weight on his right leg. The broadcast showed the running back slamming his helmet to the ground in frustration on the sideline as he was being examined. Following the game, reports on social media said that Barkley was being carted to get X-rays.
Prior to the injury, Barkley recorded 63 yards rushing and a touchdown along with six catches for 29 yards and another score. The Giants went on to win the game 31-28 as they improved their season record to 1-1.
Saquon Barkley has a long injury history, so seeing him go down is particularly worrisome for Giants fans. He tore his ACL in 2020, which sidelined him for all but two games of that season. In 2021, Barkley suffered an ankle injury which limited his productivity for much of that season.
Last year, Barkley played 16 games for the first time since his rookie season. He finished with a career-high 1,213 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns to go along with 57 catches for 338 yards. Fans will hope the update that comes back doesn’t cause him to miss any more significant time this season.
Kickoff for the Week 3 game between the Giants and 49ers is set for 8:15 p.m. ET on Thursday.
Saquon Barkley says he wants to finish his career with the Giants
It was a long journey, but Saquon Barkley returned to the New York Giants on a new deal for 2023. After failing to reach a long term deal this offseason, he signed a one-year deal worth up to $11 million to remain in New York.
It’s only for a season, as the two sides attempt to hammer out a long-term contract in the meantime, but it’s a start for the Giants and their star running back. In the past, the former Penn State star has made it clear he doesn’t want to play for anyone else, even though some theorized he could be looking at moving this past offseason.
Evidently, that didn’t change throughout some rollercoaster negotiations, as Barkley explained over the weekend.
“Oh, yeah. I don’t think that really changed,’’ Barkley told Paul Schwartz of The New York Post regarding his wish to be with the Giants for life, via Pro Football Talk. “They know how I feel. I’m not really too focused on that right now.’’
Many thought Barkley could hold out and force the Giants’ hand at giving him a long-term contract, but that wasn’t in the plans for the running back.
“Once I made the decision I was going to show up and I was going to be there and do my job, you’ve got to put all that aside,’’ Barkley added. “Got to be mature about it.”