Is injured Giants RB Saquon Barkley fearing the worst?
Injured late in the New York Giants miraculous come-from-behind victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, running back Saquon Barkley may fear the worst.
According to Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News, Barkley looked "down or despondent" after getting X-rays on his injured right leg, which could foreshadow bad news for the Giants.
On top of that, Barkley showed similar emotion immediately after leaving the field, slamming his helmet to the ground in frustration while sitting on the Giants bench.
There is hope, however. According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, a Giants source believes Barkley only sprained his ankle and the injury "could have been much worse."
Barkley suffered the injury with 1:08 left in the fourth quarter with the Giants driving for the go-ahead score, tied with Arizona, 28-28. Wrapped up by Cardinals linebacker Josh Woods, Barkley collided with two players, forcing his lower body to bend backward awkwardly. He was soon helped off the field by trainers heavily favoring his right leg.
The Giants managed to close out the victory without Barkley, who was crucial to the comeback. Barkley rushed for 63 yards (17 carries) and a touchdown on the ground while adding six catches for 29 yards and a huge touchdown in the passing game.
If Barkley's injury is severe, the Giants will sorely miss him. Should he miss extended time, the Giants would have to turn to veteran backup Matt Breida and third-year back Gary Brightwell to fill the void. That, or search the free agent and trade markets for a replacement.
The Giants have a quick turnaround with their Week 3 contest only four days away on "Thursday Night Football" against the 2-0 San Francisco 49ers.
With that in mind, it's unlikely Barkley would be available on Thursday, regardless of the severity of his injury. So, the Giants will probably get at least a taste of what they look like without Barkley in tow.
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