Terrell Davis to NY Giants’ Saquon Barkley: Don’t try to beat timetable

Hall of Famer Terrell Davis has advice for NY Giants’ running back Saquon Barkley.

Barkley is coming off a torn ACL that ended his 2020 season in Week 2 against the Chicago Bears, and according to reports, is on target to be ready to return to action when the 2021 season kicks off in September.

Davis says that Barkley, above all else, should listen to the medical advice from his doctors.

"“I always tell players,” Davis said recently. “‘Listen, I understand you feel like you’re ready to come back, make sure you’re sure. Make sure that you’re ready to come back because you can do more damage if you come back prematurely than if you wait.'”"

If Barkley is back on the field for the NY Giants’ regular season opener, he will be just under 12 months from returning from injury.

While Davis acknowledges that the competitive nature of elite athletes is to beat the timeframe, he suggests that Barkley not get on the field before he feels he’s fully ready.

"“So, if the doctor says it’s a six-week or six-month recovery,” Davis says. “Whatever it is — our minds is, ‘I’m coming back in half that time. I’m coming back in three weeks or three months.'”"

The NY Giants recently picked up Barkley’s fifth-year option, but will likely want to see that he can stay on the field for a full season, before committing to him long-term, let alone signing him to a contract that would likely Make him the highest-paid running back in the NFL.

Prior to suffering his injury last fall, Barkley had rushed for 2,344 yards and 17 touchdowns in 31 career games. If he can return to that form, Barkley likely has nothing to worry about, and the NY Giants will have one of the premier players at the position in the backfield.

Matt Lombardo is the site expert for GMenHQ, and writes Between The Hash Marks each Wednesday for FanSided. Follow Matt on Twitter: @MattLombardoNFL