Saquon Barkley doubles down on being ready for the regular season

As he works his way back from a torn ACL, Giants running back Saquon Barkley is not revealing anything about his status for Week 1.

With his torn right ACL in Week 2 last year, Saquon Barkley derailed the New York Giants’ offense and a lot of fantasy seasons in one swoop. No concrete timetable for his return has been given as he works his way back, from head coach Joe Judge down to Barkley himself on The Rich Eisen Show earlier this month.

According to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan, Barkley doubled-down in remaining vague (or coy) regarding his status for Week 1.

“I don’t know. We’ll see,” Barkley said with a smile at his annual Saquon Barkley Football ProCamp at West Essex High School when asked if he expected to be a full go at the start of camp.

How about Week 1?

“I don’t know. We’ll see,” he repeated. “Taking it day by day. Just listening to my body. Whenever I’m able to get out there, just make sure I’m 110 percent. Not just for … my well-being, but just so I go out there and compete at a high level and show the world who Saquon is.”

Back in late-May, Raanan reported the Giants may limit Barkley’s snaps early in the regular season. Devontae Booker was signed to be the team’s No. 2 back in free agency, and general manager David Gettleman anointed him as a three-down back before the draft.

Will Saquon Barkley be ready for Week 1?

By the time Week 1 comes, Barkley will be nearly a year removed from his injury and there have been no known setbacks in his rehab. But injuries have derailed his last two seasons, so 2021 is a big year for him on the health front. The Giants picked up his fifth-year option for 2022, and a long-term deal should come in time. That eye on the future seems to be informing the notion Barkley won’t get a full workload early in the season.

Barkley’s progress will remain a talking point as Giants’ training camp gets set to open, and vague answers from anyone involved will also remain. But if he is not in uniform for the season opener, independent of how much he plays, it will be a surprise.