Giants running back Saquon Barkley Kevin R. Wexler-NorthJersey.com via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Report: 'Strong chance' Giants RB Saquon Barkley plays Week 1 vs. Broncos

By Zac Wassink | Last updated Sep 2, 2021 3:54 PM ET

New York Giants star running back Saquon Barkley didn't play in any August preseason games as he continued his recovery from the torn ACL he suffered on Sept. 20 of last year. Last week, Giants head coach Joe Judge told reporters the only way Barkley would have even a chance of playing in the regular-season opener against the Denver Broncos on Sept. 12 would be if the 24-year-old faced contact during practices before that Sunday.

According to Ralph Vacchiano of SNY, Barkley took some hits from teammates on Thursday. While Barkley understandably isn't committing to starting against Denver, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler tweeted:

#Giants RB Saquon Barkley is trending in the right direction and has a strong chance to play Week 1 against Denver, per source. Team won't decide until next week and has been cautious so could still hold him back. But there is optimism. Barkley tore his ACL in Week 2 of 2020.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) September 2, 2021

Judge and his staff have been extremely cautious regarding Barkley's return to action, and the second-overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft only participated in live drills for the first time last week ahead of this past Sunday's preseason finale versus the New England Patriots.

While Barkley previously said he "wouldn’t really be worried" about seeing a live defense for the first time since the injury in Week 1, it's been made clear over the past several months he may have little say on when he first carries the ball in a regular-season game this year.

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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