Giants RB Saquon Barkley suffered a high-ankle sprain in Week 3 against the Buccaneers. Here's the latest on his prognosis and potential timeframe to return...
Oct. 14, 12:09 PM:
Barkley was back on the practice field Monday, as the Giants prepare for their Week 7 matchup against the Cardinals at MetLife Stadium. That is when the star running back is expected to return to the team, but head coach Pat Shurmur responded with, "we'll see" when asked about it. He was seen doing individual drills today.
Soon. @saquon pic.twitter.com/GYyOgQVpF8
- Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) October 14, 2019
It's early in the week, but Barkley was pushing to return against the Patriots last Thursday. A 10-day gap is between these two games, so optimisim should remain high that No. 26 is back in his pads and in the backfield come Sunday.
Oct. 13, 9:03 PM:
Saquon Barkley watched from the sideline Thursday in the Giants' 35-14 loss at the New England Patriots in Week 6, but the running back could return for next Sunday's 1 p.m. ET game against the Arizona Cardinals.
After the afternoon slate of games, Barkley took to Twitter in the evening and posted a highlight video with "I'll be back soon" as the caption.
Barkley would give the Giants a much-needed boost after running backs Eli Penny and Jon Hilliman, the latter of whom has since been cut from the 53-man roster, combined to take 14 carries for 44 yards against the Patriots.
Oct. 8, 1:45 PM:
Barkley spoke after Giants practice on Tuesday, and though SNY's Ralph Vacchiano said it is unlikely for him to play on Thursday night against the Pats, he told the media "there's been no decision yet."
So Barkley, who was limited at practice yet again, said "that's my mindset" when asked if he will be ready for the Week 6 matchup. He continues to say he feels good, and has been cutting and running hard at practice.
The Giants have a 10-day rest period after this game against New England, so if the team wants to be cautious, a Week 7 return for Barkley would be the safe move. However, with players like Wayne Gallman, Sterling Shepard and potentially Evan Engram out, the Giants could use every offensive weapon they can get.
Oct. 8, 7:35 AM:
Despite making significant progress in recent days, Barkley is unlikely to play on Thursday night against the Patriots, reports SNY's Ralph Vacchiano.
Vacchiano notes that Barkley's recovery is still progressing, but the doctors feel like the smart thing to do is to wait another week -- especially with 10 days between the Patriots game on Thursday and the Giants' next game.
Barkley was on the field last week and was projected as "limited" on Monday.
Head coach Pat Shurmur said late Monday afternoon that "there's a possibility" Barkley would play on Thursday, adding that he's "closer than he was last week."
Oct. 6, 11:26 AM:
Barkley is hoping to make his return sooner then expected, eyeing Week 6 against the Patriots on Thursday as his ideal date to make it back, as was reported by SNY's Ralph Vacchiano.
Barkley told NFL.com's Ian Rapoport and Kim Jones that it would be awesome to return against such an all-around team like the Patriots.
"How can anyone tell me how long I'm supposed to be out?" Barkley asked Jones. "Maybe because of my competitive nature. How are you going to tell me [that]? No one was in the doctor's office [with me], no one has seen my ankle, everyone's different. I think an important thing that Dr. [Robert] Anderson and Dr. [Martin] O'Malley said was, 'You treat the patient, not the injury.' When I heard that, I just took it to heart. ... Everyone's putting these messages out there, and no one heard from my mouth that I'm out six to eight weeks. That made no sense at all."
Oct. 4, 12:28 PM:
Barkley was a limited participant in practice on Friday as he continued to make progress, but he has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Vikings.
Head coach Pat Shurmur said team doctors made the ultimate call that Barkley would not play.
SNY's Ralph Vacchiano reported Thursday that while Barkley was making significant progress, the target for his return was Week 6 against the Patriots.
Oct. 3, 11:13 AM:
Barkley was on field with his teammates before practice officially started on Thursday, stretching, jogging, hopping, and doing other drills while showing no ill-effects when it comes to his injured ankle.
He then went to the side to do individual drills with trainers.
Get ready ... It looked like @Saquon Barkley was going to practice with the Giants today. ...
- Ralph Vacchiano (@RVacchianoSNY) October 3, 2019
Then he went to the side to work with trainers when individual drills began ...
Then the media left and practice continued ...
So stay tuned ... pic.twitter.com/gsjmSH22QF
Oct. 3, 10:28 AM:
Barkley could return to practice on Thursday, Pat Shurmur said, while still refusing to rule out Barkley for Week 5 against the Vikings.
"We'll see what we're going to do when we get out there," Shurmur replied when asked if Barkley would do more work with trainers or officially return to practice.
Shurmur also didn't specifically say Barkley has to practice first in order to be active on Sunday, but noted there are some "things" the team needs to see Barkley do before he's cleared.
Oct. 2, 12:46 PM:
Speaking after Barkley was out at practice (but not officially a participant) on Wednesday, Giants head coach Pat Shurmur talked about Barkley's progress, even going as far as to refuse to rule him out for Sunday's game against the Vikings.
About Barkley's timetable for returning to game action, Shurmur had a bit of an eye-opening quote.
"Some people's doctors had him eight weeks (before he would return)," he said. "Not my doctors."
While Barkley's progress is significant, it would still be surprising to see him suit up on Sunday.
Oct. 2, 11:37 AM:
It was good to see Barkley was out of his walking boot, but it was great to see No. 26 back on the practice field on Wednesday in full uniform. And he's already making cuts on his ankle...
Look who's back at practice stretching and jogging 👀 @saquon pic.twitter.com/X1VrSofFFo
- Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) October 2, 2019
Another video of Saquon cutting. I'm going to take the under on eight weeks... pic.twitter.com/GHSDOrZbCw
- Dan Duggan (@DDuggan21) October 2, 2019
That shouldn't be happening with a high ankle sprain, but Barkley has consistently mentioned how confident he is that he won't need the full recovery time. But this is basically a week and a half since the initial injury.
Barkley did mention that he came back in Penn State from the same injury in just two weeks. It may not be the same result this week, but the fact that he's already back on the practice field should make every Giants fan smile.
Sept. 29, 5:35 P.M.:
Saquon Barkley was without a walking boot on his sprained ankle after the Giants' 24-3 win over the Washington Redskins on Sunday.
From the home locker room at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, he told reporters -- including SNY's Ralph Vacchiano -- that the hope was for him to make a miracle comeback and beat the projected timeframe of 5-7 weeks.
Barkley plans to take things day by day. The Giants continue their regular-season schedule at home next Sunday when they host the Minnesota Vikings in Week 5.
Sept. 26, 10:38 AM:
Giants head coach Pat Shurmur confirmed on Thursday that the recommendation for Barkley was to rehab instead of having surgery.
"I don't want to put any timeframe on how long it'll take him to come back," Shurmur said, adding that the team has no plans to place Barkley on IR.
"He's gonna do anything he can to come back quickly," Shurmur said. "Just like any time a player is injured, there's a process they have to go through and then monitor it."
Sept. 26, 7:58 AM:
After receiving a second opinion on his high-ankle sprain, the recommendation remained no surgery for Saquon Barkley, SNY's Ralph Vacchiano confirmed.
Vacchiano added that in a best-case scenario, Barkley will return in a month, but that the most likely scenario remains an absence of six-to-eight weeks.
The option of Tightrope surgery was on the table, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, but was not ultimately chosen. A relatively new innovation, Tightrope surgery accelerates the healing process.
Sept. 24, 2:37 PM:
Barkley went for testing on his ankle and was examined by Giants consultant Dr. Martin O'Malley on Tuesday, reports Chris Mortensen.
Barkley is headed to Green Bay on Wednesday to see foot/ankle specialist Dr. Robert Anderson for a second opinion, a source confirmed to SNY's Ralph Vacchiano (and as Mortensen reported), who says the Giants remain sure it's a high ankle sprain for Barkley.
Since Barkley's injury, there has been no official word one way or the other regarding potential surgery.
Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa suffered a high ankle sprain last season, had Tightrope surgery, and returned to game action 28 days after the injury.
Sept. 23, 1:44 PM:
Head coach Pat Shurmur said that an MRI revealed Barkley suffered a high-ankle sprain, as SNY's Ralph Vacchiano reported Sunday after the game was the injury.
Vacchiano spoke to a source who indicated that the timetable for Barkley's return is six-to-eight weeks.
Sept. 22, 9:20 PM:
The injury that forced Barkley from Sunday's game against the Buccaneers during the second quarter was a high ankle sprain, a source confirmed to SNY's Ralph Vacchiano.
Sept. 22, 6:17 PM:
Barkley returned to the sidelines wearing a walking boot and on crutches after being ruled out of returning to Sunday's game due to an ankle injury.
While suffering the injury, Barkley was tackled on the left sideline and landed awkwardly, coming up and immediately hopping on one leg while keeping his other off the ground and noticeably wincing in pain.
Barkley had to be helped to the locker room with his arms around two trainers, and was initially listed as questionable to return.
