Barkley found the end zone twice to help erase a 21-point deficit in the Giants’ remarkable comeback win, and supplanting his energetic play will be tough for a team that seemed to finally find its footing in the second half of Week 2.
Injuries to New York’s offensive line doesn’t help the situation, either, with left tackle Andrew Thomas (hamstring) hoping for a quick return after missing Week 2 and guard Ben Bredeson currently in the concussion protocol. Thomas was limited in Monday’s practice estimation while Bredeson was listed as a DNP.
Veteran Matt Breida, Gary Brightwell and fifth-round rookie Eric Gray round out the RB depth chart for Big Blue and figure to share the workload while Barkley is out.
Daniel Jones, who is second on the team with 102 rushing yards, could be called upon to open up the Giants’ passing attack without a featured back. Jones has throw for 425 yards (41 of 65) with two touchdowns and three interceptions this season, but a leaky O-line that’s allowed 10 sacks through two weeks has made for some frenzied offensive highlights for New York.
It’s a frustrating injury for Barkley, who signed a reworked one-year deal just ahead of training camp to avoid a lengthy standoff after being franchise tagged earlier in the offseason, but Monday’s development brings relief for a star RB who should still have the opportunity to prove his worth in 2023.