Saquon Barkley 'feeling good' in injury comeback
Giants star running back Saquon Barkley has been working hard this offseason to rehab the torn ACL injury he suffered during last year's Week 2 contest against the Chicago Bears.
Barkley recently joined the Rich Eisen Show to discuss his comeback and how his leg is feeling with training camp right around the corner.
"I'm feeling good," said the 24-year-old running back. "I'm doing good, taking it day by day, trying to get one percent better every single day. I'm enjoying my time. Obviously, camp is approaching soon, so I'm enjoying time with my family and still trying to get the work in that I can before things ramp up."
Last year's injury forced Barkley to miss all but the first six quarters of the 2020 season.
With training camp still over a week away, the two-time offensive captain would not give an exact timetable for his return to the field. Instead, the running back reiterated that he is doing everything in his power to get better each day in order to be able to help the team this coming season.
"My body tells me what it's ready for the next day," Barkley said. "That's the only thing I can do. I can't look too far [ahead], I have to take it one day at a time and keep that approach. Like I said, I'm very fortunate enough to have an amazing team, an amazing organization that listens to me, listens to my body, and is going to help me and do the right thing by me."
View photos of Giants running back Saquon Barkley's time with the New York Giants.
Important NFL dates to know for 2021-2022
Here are all of the important dates for the National Football League's 2021-2022 league year.
July 15: At 4:00 p.m., New York time, deadline for any club that designated a Franchise Player to sign such player to a multiyear contract or extension. After this date, the player may sign only a one- year contract with his prior club for the 2021 season, and such contract cannot be extended until after the club's last regular season game.
Mid-July: Clubs are permitted to open preseason training camp for rookies (defined as a player who has never signed a player contract with an NFL club in a prior League Year) beginning seven days prior to the club's earliest permissible mandatory reporting date for veteran players. A club's preseason training camp will be deemed to have officially opened on the designated reporting date for all rookies.
-- Clubs may require first-year players (defined as a player who signed a player contract with any NFL club in a prior League Year, but who does not have a pension-credited season) to report on the designated reporting date for all rookies, or at any time thereafter, including, but not limited to, the designated reporting date for veteran quarterbacks and injured players, or the designated reporting date for all other veteran players.
-- Veteran quarterbacks and "injured players" (as defined in CBA Article 21, Section 6) may be required to report to the club's preseason training camp no earlier than five days immediately prior to the mandatory reporting date for all other veteran players, provided the club has already opened (or simultaneously opens) its official preseason training camp for all rookies.
-- Veteran players (defined as a player with at least one pension- credited season) other than quarterbacks or injured players may report to a club's preseason training camp 47 days prior to a club's first regular season game if it falls on a Thursday or Sunday or 48 days prior to a club's first regular season game if it falls on a Monday. For clubs whose first preseason is the Canton Hall of Fame Game, no veteran player other than quarterbacks and injured players will be required to report earlier than 14 days prior to such game.
-- A five-day acclimation period will apply to players who report to preseason training camp or are on a club's roster up to and including the mandatory veteran reporting date. Players who report to camp, or join the club's roster, or receive medical clearance to practice during the five-day acclimation period are required to complete as much of the acclimation period as remains. Players who report to camp, or join the club's roster, or receive medical clearance to practice after the five-day acclimation period has ended may practice (including wearing pads) and play immediately after passing a physical.
-- A player shall not receive an accrued season for any League Year in which the player is under contract to a club in which he failed to report to the club's preseason training camp on that player's mandatory reporting date.
July 20: Beginning on the date that the first training camp opens for rookies (July 20, 2021) through the last business day prior to the Super Bowl (February 14, 2022), all tryouts and visits will be reported to clubs on the Personnel Notice.
July 22: At 4:00 p.m., New York time, signing period ends for Transition Players with outstanding tenders. After this date and until 4:00 p.m., New York time, on the Tuesday following the 10th weekend of the regular season, prior club has exclusive negotiating rights.
-- *At 4:00 p.m., New York time, signing period ends for unrestricted free agents to whom a "UFA Tender" was made by prior club. After this date and until 4:00 p.m., New York time, on the Tuesday following the 10th weekend of the regular season, prior club has exclusive negotiating rights.
* or the first scheduled day of the first NFL training camp, whichever is later.
July 27: The NFL will begin training camp in unison for the first time in league history.
View photos of the New York Giants' active 53-man roster as it currently stands.
Where does Saquon stand in LaDainian Tomlinson's RB rankings?
Check out the video below to watch Pro Football Hall of Fame running back and NFL Network analyst LaDainian Tomlinson rank Saquon Barkley among the NFL's top running backs.
Single Game Tickets
A limited number of Giants 2021 single game tickets are on sale now