Jordan RaananESPN Staff Writer September 21, 2023, 8:42 PM ET2 minute read
Who will have to fill in for the Giants in Saquon Barkley’s absence?
The Monday Night Countdown team discusses how the Giants will navigate the next few weeks without star RB Saquon Barkley.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley said Thursday he actually has a severe ankle sprain.
Barkley, who revealed the injury in an interview with Amazon, was injured in Sunday’s 31-28 win over the Arizona Cardinals. It was initially thought to be a common sprain, but Barkley clarified the injury before Thursday night’s game against the San Francisco 49ers, saying it was a severe sprain but adding that it wasn’t as serious as it could have been.
A source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter this week that Barkley is expected to be out for three weeks.
The fact that I couldn’t play on Thursday evening was more a question of coping with the pain. Giants coach Brian Daboll said earlier this week that Barkley had made “significant progress” and was a quick healer.
Barkley told Amazon that he would benefit from the 11 days between Thursday night and the Giants’ Week 4 game against the Seattle Seahawks on Oct. 2.
A two-time Pro Bowler, Barkley had 29 carries for 114 yards and a touchdown in the first two games of the season. He also had nine catches for 41 yards and a touchdown.