Call it something to keep an eye on just days before the Giants are scheduled to play one of their biggest games of the season against the Philadelphia Eagles. Running back Saquon Barkley was added to the team’s injury report on Thursday as a limited participant due to a neck issue.
Barkley had not been on the Giants’ injury report following Wednesday’s practice in East Rutherford. It will now become part of the narrative as the game with Philadelphia quickly approaches on Sunday and the Giants look to come away with a win over their NFC East rival and one of the best teams in the NFL.
The Giants back had been asked by reporters how he was feeling following practice on Thursday.
“I feel like it’s Week 13 or 14 in the season no matter if I had 200 touches or 10 touches,” he responded. “It’s a grind. It’s the wear and tear of the mind, the body. That’s the nature of the NFL but also the beauty of it. I know people saying slow it down – I really don’t see it like that. I think we play some tough teams. I think it’s been November, December football and we’ve been playing meaningful games, going against some really good teams and they’ve been doing a really good job.
“Now, it’s on my side where I’ve got to continue to reflect on myself and see what I can do better and take advantage of the opportunities that are out there.”
Barkley has been a big part of New York’s success this season, but his production has slowed down in recent weeks. He has run over 100 yards just once in the last five weeks and he had just 63 yards on the ground in the Week 13 tie with the Washington Commanders.
The Giants’ back did surpass the 1,000-yard mark for yards on the ground in that game, but it seems that how Barkley goes so do the Giants. In the one game he did have 152 yards rushing, New York won.
He has found the end zone in five of the last six games.
If Barkley is unable to play on Sunday, then Matt Breida and Gary Brightwell will get a bulk of the carries against the Eagles. Barkley has appeared in all 12 games this season for the Giants.
Here is the Giants’ full injury report:
Did not participate: OL Joshua Ezeudu (neck), CB Adoree’ Jackson (knee), OL Shane Lemieux (toe), DE Leonard Williams (neck)
Limited participant: CB Darnay Holmes (shoulder), WR Richie James Jr. (knee), DB Nick McCloud (hamstring), DL Henry Mondeaux (knee), RB Saquon Barkley (neck)
Full participant: WR Kenny Golladay (illness), OL Mark Glowinski (rest), NT Dexter Lawrence (rest), S Julian Love (rest)
