New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley’s shoulder is keeping him from practicing fully. It is the latest injury for the celebrated star but not one that he’s going to let keep him from playing for — and leading — the 5-1 Giants this week in Jacksonville.
“It’s annoying, but it’s not something that’s going to stop me from going out there and being able to produce,” Barkley told reporters on Thursday. “Just like anything throughout the season, it’s every year — it’s football, something is going to happen. Just got to stay with it.
“The trainers have been doing a really good job of setting up a program for me and also getting in the strength room, setting up a great program too. Just stick with it.”
Barkley leads the NFL in total yards from scrimmage through six weeks (771) and his 616 yards rushing is second only to Cleveland’s Nick Chubb. He is the only player in the league who is averaging over 85 yards from scrimmage each week.
Barkley’s not locked into the numbers as much as he is trying to help the Giants win.
“That’s something that, kind of the word of the week for the team is just continue to be consistent, block out the noise, come in and work every single day, fall in love with the process and if you keep doing that, the consistency is going to continue to improve,” he said. “That’s the only thing I’m trying to do.”
But the injury to the shoulder is not lost on Barkley. He knows in his profession that the rigor of a 17-game season will take its toll on his body. He is learning to manage it.
“It just sucks that I play running back in the National Football League (laughs) and kind of every time I touch the ball I’m getting hit in my shoulder,” Barkley said. “Like I said, it’s really nothing that I’m really concerned about. Do I get worked on? Yeah, not just only that, but all of my body. I’m big on rehab and big on trying to get my body right not just for the game but throughout this whole season and that’s what I’m going to continue.”
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