Following a spectacular rookie season that saw the New York Giants' second-overall draft pick running back Saquon Barkley tear the NFL up for 2,028 total yards from scrimmage and 15 touchdowns, expectations were sky high for the young superstar.
Unfortunately, an ankle injury derailed most of Barkley's 2019 season and as a result, the New York Giants didn't take the leap that many expected.
In an Instagram Live interview with fellow athletes George Kittle, Cody Bellinger, Mike Trout and Brooks Koepka, Barkley spoke on the pivotal injury that hindered him this past season (via GiantsWire):
When I first got hurt, I had it in a boot, I was in the boot for like two days … My whole mindset was coming back early. I was jumping on the ‘dirt thing’ — you’re really not supposed to be doing that.
The injury forced the 23-year-old to miss the next three weeks, but even when he returned for the Giants' Week 7 matchup with the Arizona Cardinals, it was clear that Barkley wasn't one hundred percent. Said Barkley,
“I was trying to [test] myself to see where my strength is and how bad it actually hurts. With injuries, there’s always a deadline for everyone. Like, the high ankle sprain takes six to eight weeks or something like that. But I wanted to try and get it moving and try to get it as good as I can to get back.”
The former Penn State star finished the season with 1,003 rushing yards and six touchdowns in 13 games — still a solid season but not exactly what most expected from arguably the league's top young running back. Barkley added,
Going into his third season, Barkley seems to be completely healthy and barring another injury, should get back to dominating on the field for New York.
“It was tough to deal with. Once we got to the offseason and I got some time to myself to work on it and be happy with it, it made me feel a lot better.”