Without running back Saquon Barkley since the second-year playmaker suffered his high sprained right ankle in Sept. 22's 32-31 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the New York Giants hope to have him back as he goes through practice with Week 7 on deck against the Arizona Cardinals.

The Giants (2-4) have been plagued by injuries on offense since Barkley went down, losing backup running back Wayne Gallman (concussion) among the absent skill players.

After consecutive losses to the Minnesota Vikings (28-10, Oct. 6) and New England Patriots (35-14, Oct. 10) in Weeks 5 and 6, the Giants have an opportunity for a rebound with Sunday's 1 p.m. kickoff against the Cardinals (2-3-1), but will Barkley be back?

Rookie quarterback Daniel Jones is hopeful.

"We're going to take it day by day and see how he feels," Jones said of Barkley. "I know he's been working hard, so we'll see. Hopefully we'll have him out there."

Second-year head coach Pat Shurmur stood by Wednesday's injury report, which upgraded Barkley and third-year tight end Evan Engram (knee) to full participants after both offensive weapons sat out Week 6.

Soon. @saquon pic.twitter.com/GYyOgQVpF8
- Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) October 14, 2019

"It's the middle of October and we're playing ball," Shurmur said. "We'll just see how that plays out. Players that are deemed healthy, you try to use them to the best of their ability and maximize what they can do to help impact the game.

Still without fourth-year wide receiver Sterling Shepard (concussion), the possible returns of Barkley and Engram would only help Jones.

In each of the Giants' past two losses, Jones struggled without weapons around him, completing 36 of 69 passes (52.2 percent) for 343 yards and two touchdowns to four interceptions.

Barkley's first game back, if it is against the Cardinals, would come as a matchup with the NFL's third-worst defense -- Arizona has allowed an average of 414.0 total yards through six games -- after the Giants managed 212.0 per game in losses to the Vikings and Patriots.

"I'm excited to be on the field with (Barkley) and block for him and whatever is needed to help him score and help us win," said veteran wide receiver Golden Tate, who flashed with six receptions for 102 yards and a 64-yard touchdown in the Giants' loss to the Patriots. "He's a huge part of this offense. We're excited about it. We have to do our jobs the best we can to spring each other."

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