Giants OC: RB Saquon Barkley '100%' ahead of Broncos game

New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Giants OC Jason Garrett: RB Saquon Barkley '100%' ahead of Broncos game

By Zac Wassink | Last updated Sep 9, 2021 1:18 PM ET

New York Giants head coach Joe Judge has been clear since the spring that star running back Saquon Barkley would not return to the lineup to face a live defense coming off the torn ACL he suffered nearly 12 months ago until he took some contact from teammates in a practice and was deemed to be 100% recovered from the setback.

Barkley checked the first box a week ago, and New York offensive coordinator Jason Garrett may have intentionally or not unveiled the 24-year-old could be good to go for Sunday's regular-season opener against the Denver Broncos.

Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett on Saquon Barkley: “A lot of confidence in him as a player. I think he’s done a great job to get himself back healthy and 100%.”

100% it is!
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) September 9, 2021

It should be noted Garrett's comments do not necessarily make Barkley a lock to play. Judge and company always planned to reevaluate the electric ball-carrier following Thursday's practice session, and it wouldn't be shocking to see the coach wait until Friday or even the weekend to confirm Barkley will start Sunday afternoon in the Big Blue backfield.

As has been the case since the Labor Day holiday, though, all signs seem to point to Barkley playing against Denver at MetLife Stadium.

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

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