NFL: Giants RB Saquon Barkley active for game against Washington Football Team

New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley, who was earlier listed as questionable for the game, will start against the Washington Football Team in Thursday night football. 

As the 24-year-old was coming off a major anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, Barkley was in doubt to start against Washington after just playing in the Week 1 game four days back.

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Against Denver, Barkley’s numbers were not impressive. The 2018 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year gained 26 yards on 10 carries and caught a pass for a yard.

His longest run was a 5-yarder on the first play from scrimmage. It was his first carry since September 20, the day he was hurt against the Bears in Week 2.

However, Barkley has insisted that his explosiveness as a runner is still there. He just has to knock off the rust, read the blocks better, react to the holes and break a tackle or two.

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“I didn’t really give myself the opportunity or had an opportunity to break a long one, so I guess I couldn’t show that,” Barkley said of his big-play ability, according to Associated Press inputs. “Just got to stick with the game plan, stick with the runs, take the dirty runs. When I get the opportunity to make a big play, make a big play.”

Barkley said he actually wrote that in his notes in going over the game.

Meanwhile, ahead of the game, Giants announced that they were shuffling their offensive line, starting newly acquired Billy Price at centre.

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Meanwhile, Nick Gates, who started every game at centre last season and Week 1 of 2021 for New York, will move to left guard against Washington.

Starting left guard Shane Lemieux was placed on injured reserve, prompting the switcheroo in the offensive system. Lemieux left last week’s game against Denver with a knee injury.