The New York Giants are under a week away from their first preseason game of the 2022 NFL season. The team kicked off training camp recently and has seen a number of players stand out during the summer practices. One of those players is the highly-talented yet highly controversial running back Saquon Barkley. After a tumultuous past two seasons, Saquon Barkley has shown up to Giants training camp looking like an explosive, versatile weapon for Brian Daboll’s new offense.
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Why Saquon Barkley has a huge bounce-back season in store
The past two seasons have been tough for Saquon Barkley. After being drafted with the second overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, Barkley has seen his career plummet. The 2018 Offensive Rookie of the Year set franchise records during his first season. In year two, injuries started to hold back the Giants’ rusher, but he still managed to top 1,000 rushing yards. 2020 ended abruptly and far too early in the season as Saquon suffered a torn ACL in Week 2. In 2021, Saquon returned to the field, only to be sidelined once again with minor injuries mid-season.
Saquon Barkley started 13 games for the Giants in 2021, totaling only 592 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. Saquon did not make much of a factor in the receiving game, either, recording just 41 receptions for 263 yards and two scores. This aspect of Barkley’s game is the most crucial and it is the key to seeing him bounce back in 2022. Thankfully, the New York Giants’ new offensive coaching staff seems to understand this and has been utilizing Saquon Barkley’s versatility at training camp.
Saquon Barkley has his burst back, linebackers don’t stand a chance in man coverage #NYG
— Alex Wilson (@AlexWilsonESM) August 2, 2022
Saquon Barkley is back to looking like his old self at New York Giants training camp. Reporters have described Saquon as “explosive,” as has head coach Brian Daboll. Barkley has ripped numerous big plays down the field during practice. Brian Daboll and Mike Kafka have been scheming plays to maximize their running back’s talents. The Giants’ offense has lined Barkley out wide, in the slot, and used him with pre-snap motion frequently during camp.
The last two years were not all that Saquon Barkley and the Giants were hoping for. But this year could be different. Saquon is on a mission to “show the Giants that the guy that they drafted is still here.” If he can translate this level of play into the regular season, it will be a fun year for Saquon Barkley and the New York Giants.