The Giants’ hold on Saquon Barkley is almost as tight as his grip on the football.
Things can change in an instant in the NFL, however.
Playing with the peace of mind communicated by general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll that the Giants do not intend to trade him before the Oct. 31 deadline, Barkley gained 118 yards from scrimmage and scored the decisive touchdown Sunday in a 14-7 victory against the Commanders.
But he also lost a fumble for just the second time in 1,291 career touches and cost the Giants a chance at a near-automatic insurance field goal.
Because the Giants survived the turnover, Barkley was able to joke about how quickly the comforting message about his short-term future would’ve been replaced by angry-fan demands.
“They [the fans] would’ve tried to ship my a- out of here though if we lost that game,” Barkley quipped. “I’ll tell you that.”
Barkley said he “hyperextended” his left elbow in the first quarter, but he played the rest of the game with a medical sleeve and racked up 21 carries and three catches.
He did not use the injury as an excuse for fumbling on first-and-goal from the 10-yard line with 7:46 to go.
“It’s simple: I have to do a better job of protecting the ball,” Barkley said. “Obviously, I’ve been better at protecting the ball throughout my career, but that’s a key moment. We have to find a way to come away with points there. I let my team down, but the defense had my back.”
Did the fumble forced and recovered by DaRon Payne have something to do with his arm injury?
“I’m not going to sit here and make excuses,” said Barkley, adding that his arm will be “all right.” “Payne is a really strong dude and he got a good grip of the ball, and he won that fight.”
Barkley’s biggest victory was a 32-yard touchdown catch that put the Giants ahead 14-0.
He acted out the play-action fake from quarterback Tyrod Taylor, stutter-stepped to shake coverage from linebacker Jamin Davis, caught a pass in the flat, ran through Davis’ attempt at an ankle tackle on the sideline and cut back to the end zone.
It was the kind of big-play element and yards after catch missing from the Giants in the first six games, especially the three that Barkley was out with a high ankle sprain.
“Tyrod did a really good job of hitting me on the move,” Barkley said.
The Giants still hope to sign Barkley to a multiyear extension after the season, according to NFL Network.
The sides can’t negotiate in-season under franchise tag rules.
A second franchise tag ($12.1 million in 2024) wouldn’t be the worst outcome for Barkley, either.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a sigh of relief because [a trade] doesn’t cross my mind,” Barkley said. “There was a conversation during the week from Dabes and Joe, who pulled me aside. I can’t control that if it does happen or it doesn’t happen. What I can control is how I compete, my mindset and my work ethic — and that’s what I’m going to continue to do: Go back to the drawing board and find a way to hold onto the ball.”
