In spite of reports saying that New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley will not be ready to play against the New England Patriots on Thursday night, the superstar is not yet ruling himself out.
When asked if he would be playing in the Giants' Week 6 matchup, Barkley had this to say:
“That’s my mindset. That’s the way I’ve been approaching this game,” said Barkley, according to Ralph Vacchiano of SNY.
Barkley added that he doesn't know if he's playing, saying “there's been no decision yet.”
This falls in line with head coach Pat Shurmur's statement at a press conference on Tuesday, with Shurmur saying “you didn't hear that from me” when asked about reports that Barkley would not be available, per Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk.
Barkley suffered a high-ankle sprain during the first half of New York's Week 3 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and has not played since. Given that high-ankle sprains generally sideline players for extended periods of time, it would be surprising if Barkley suited up on Thursday.
On the season, Barkley has carried the ball 37 times for 237 yards and a touchdown.
The 22-year-old, who played his collegiate football at Penn State, was originally selected by the Giants with the second overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft.
He played in all 16 games during his rookie campaign, racking up 1,307 yards and 11 touchdowns while averaging five yards per carry. In addition, he hauled in 91 receptions for 721 yards and four scores en route to a Pro Bowl appearance.
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