Giants' Daniel Jones shares promising Saquon Barkley update

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones recently trained with disgruntled running back Saquon Barkley and has remained in contact with Barkley despite the ball-carrier's absences from team-related springtime workouts.

"Saquon is always working hard, he’s always going to be in good shape, he’s always going to look good," Jones told Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post. "Anyone who has been around him is going to expect that from him. We’re talking all the time, staying in touch, getting together when we can. I know he’s got a lot going on, and I really hope the two sides can come together." 

Barkley suggested earlier this month he could sit regular-season games out if he and the Giants don't come to terms on a long-term contract by the July 17 deadline for teams to sign franchise-tagged players. Most NFL insiders assume Barkley is bluffing and would play on the $10.091M franchise tender for 2023, if necessary, and the fact he's working out with his QB1 coupled with the knowledge that the two are "talking all the time" indicates the 26-year-old will eventually report for work at some point before the Giants open the season with a home game against the division-rival Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 10. 

Jones previously gathered offensive skill players, including Barkley, for training sessions in Arizona this spring. 

"We’re going to get together pretty soon and get some work in," Jones revealed to Dunleavy. "We’ve gone down to Charlotte in the past, and I think that’s the plan again." 

Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk pointed out that Barkley could join his teammates for upcoming Jones-led workouts in Charlotte even if the 2018 first-round draft pick doesn't sign his franchise tag or agree to a new deal before those sessions start. Barkley doing just that would offer fans additional hope that he expects to contribute in a big way for the 2023 Giants, regardless of his contract status, whenever handoffs and games begin to matter.