It’s been a tough stretch of luck for former Penn State running back Saquon Barkley, dealing with an assortment of injuries over the last year.
While Barkley was finally cleared from his ACL tear in week two of the 2020 NFL season this month, he suffered a gruesome ankle injury early in the first quarter against the Dallas Cowboys a few weeks ago. And while it might have appeared significant, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Barkley should return by week nine.
From @NFLGameDay: #Giants RB Saquon Barkley is out today and has an outside chance at next week. He should be back by Nov. 7. Meanwhile, the #Falcons welcome back star WR Calvin Ridley after a week away due to a mental health break. Kudus to ATL for taking care of their guy. pic.twitter.com/sk7Vp93Pxz
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 24, 2021
While there’s an outside chance Barkley could return against the Kansas City Chiefs next week, Rapoport reported that he’ll likely make his return to the field against the Los Angeles Raiders on Nov. 7. Which would leave Barkley out for just about a month, missing time against the Cowboys, Los Angeles Rams, Carolina Panthers and Chiefs.
Barkley has rushed for 195 yards and two touchdowns on 54 carries and caught 14 more passes for 130 yards and a touchdown this season, working his way back from the ACL tear.
In Barkley’s first two seasons in the league, he racked up 2,310 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns on 478 carries and caught 143 passes for an additional 1,159 receiving yards and six touchdowns as one of the NFL’s premier all-purpose weapons.
It’s been a tough year and a half stretch, but when healthy, Barkley is a game-changing player in the NFL.
