Giants RB Saquon Barkley: I ‘feel like I can trust my knee again’

Coaching camp for the New York Giants began on Wednesday, and Saquon Barkley is lastly beginning to really feel like the most effective model of himself after coping with quite a few accidents over the previous couple of seasons.
“I really feel lots higher than I felt at this level final 12 months,” mentioned Barkley, who averaged 3.7 yards per carry and solely 45.6 dashing yards per recreation final season. “My physique feels sturdy. Really feel like I bought my power again. Really feel like I bought my pace again. Really feel like I can belief my knee once more, belief myself to make performs and never give it some thought.”
New York drafted Barkley second total in 2018, and his rookie season initially validated the choice. He broke the franchise’s single-season data for dashing yards (1,307) and dashing touchdowns (11) by a rookie. His 15 touchdowns total have been probably the most by a Giants rusher since Brandon Jacobs in 2005 and earned the Penn State product Offensive Rookie of the Yr honors. Barkley added to his chapter within the crew’s historical past books by turning into their first RB to high 1,000 dashing yards in his first two seasons.
However his second season was additionally when accidents started plaguing him.
He missed three video games in 2019 due to an ankle damage and all however two video games within the 2020 marketing campaign following an ACL tear. Final 12 months, he was sidelined for 4 video games with one other ankle damage. Lastly wholesome this offseason, Barkley did his greatest to get his physique proper.
“Coming into this camp, specializing in my physique, engaged on my physique, doing all of the little issues essential to preserve my physique wholesome,” Barkley mentioned. “When you may belief your physique, your confidence simply grows.”
Nonetheless, Barkley does not need to get too forward of himself because the Giants put together for a brand new season.
“You may’t get too excessive on it as a result of it is simply minicamp proper now,” Barkey mentioned. “However all of the little stuff in gaining confidence right here, on this break that we now have, hopefully catapults and pushes me via camp and to the common season and past.”
Barkley is within the fifth and last 12 months of his rookie contract.

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