An MRI scan has revealed that Saquon Barkley, the New York Giants running back, sustained a "common" ankle sprain, and he is expected to be out of action for approximately three weeks, according to a source disclosed to ESPN's Adam Schefter on Monday.
Barkley suffered the ankle injury during the late stages of Sunday's thrilling comeback win against the Arizona Cardinals, in which he scored two touchdowns in the second half (one rushing and one receiving). The injury occurred on the penultimate play from scrimmage when Barkley's ankle got caught under a pile, causing immediate pain. He was assisted off the field by trainers and later limped off after the game.
Immediately following the game at State Farm Stadium, Barkley underwent an X-ray, which came back negative, offering hope that there was no fracture. However, the ankle remained somewhat swollen, leading to the decision to conduct an MRI in Arizona on Monday morning.
The Giants' upcoming opponents in the next three games are all playoff teams from the previous season, starting with the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday night, followed by the Seattle Seahawks and Miami Dolphins. To fill Barkley's absence, the Giants will rely on running backs Matt Breida, Gary Brightwell, and rookie Eric Gray.
The initial hope was that Barkley had avoided a serious injury, specifically the dreaded high ankle sprain that typically sidelines players for an extended period.
Barkley, who is 26 years old, is playing this season under a restructured franchise tag and is set to become a free agent at the end of the season. He had hoped to position himself for a lucrative contract but missing time due to injury could impact his prospects.
Despite the setbacks, Barkley expressed his commitment to performing at a high level for his team and teammates, emphasizing that he aims to prove himself once again.
Barkley has a history of ankle injuries, having missed three games in 2019 due to a right ankle injury and four games in 2021 because of a left ankle injury. His absence will undoubtedly affect the Giants, as he played a significant role in Sunday's comeback, participating in an impressive 97% of the offensive snaps, with 17 rushes for 63 yards and six catches for 29 yards. He also played a substantial 80.2% of his team's running back snaps last season.