The New York Giants overcame a 21-point deficit to defeat the Arizona Cardinals 31-28 on Sunday at State Farm Stadium, tying their best come-from-behind victory in franchise history. The danger of losing star running back Saquon Barkley to an ankle injury threw a shadow over the otherwise exhilarating triumph for the visitors.
According to sources who spoke to ESPN, Barkley, who scored two touchdowns—one running and one receiving—will get an MRI on Monday in Arizona to assess the severity of the injury and the potential length of his absence.
After the game, Barkley’s ankle swelled, although according to one source, the early assessment is that “it’s an ordinary [sprain], rather than a high-ankle sprain.”
As Barkley limped off the field to the X-ray room, it was obvious that he was in pain. X-rays of the ankle came back clear, sources claim.
Coach Brian Daboll declined to comment on the extent of Barkley’s injury when asked.
The injury occurred after Barkley’s ankle turned awkwardly at the bottom of a pile after a run up the middle with just over a minute left in the game. Barkley was the only person in the locker room with a frown after the Giants overcame a 28-7 hole to tie the game.
The Giants will stay in Arizona this week due to the short turnaround before departing on Wednesday for San Francisco in preparation for Thursday night’s game against the 49ers. After that, they have 11 days before their Oct. 2 “Monday Night Football” game against the Seattle Seahawks at MetLife Stadium.
This year, 26-year-old Barkley is playing under a new franchise tag. At the completion of the current campaign, he will be a free agent.
Ankle injuries are nothing new for Barkley. He missed four games in 2021 due to a left ankle injury and three games in 2019 due to an injury to his right ankle.
His chances of signing a new contract and the Giants’ long-term prospects could both suffer from a protracted absence.
Playing 65 of 67 offensive snaps (97%), Barkley has 17 carries for 63 yards and six receptions for 29 yards on Sunday.
While all was going on, the Giants might have rescued their season. Following a 40-0 loss to the Dallas Cowboys a week prior, New York was facing a 20-0 disadvantage on Sunday. The Giants gave up 60 points before scoring their first point of the season, which was the second-highest total since the 1970 merger and the highest total since the 1978 Baltimore Colts (86).
The Giants overcame a 21-point deficit to win for the third time in franchise history; they also did it in the 1945 and 1947 seasons.
They succeeded on Sunday thanks to a spectacular second half from quarterback Daniel Jones, who threw for two touchdowns and ran for a third.
On the opening offensive play of the second half, Jones threw a 58-yard ball to youngster Jalin Hyatt that set everything in motion.
In the second half, the Giants accumulated 358 yards, as opposed to 81 in the first.
