Saquon Barkley reintroduces himself to NY Giants, addresses Week 1

NY Giants running back Saquon Barkley returned to practice, just over a month ahead of the team’s regular season opener against the Denver Broncos

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Saquon Barkley has been out action for so long that some of his NY Giants teammates were shaking his hand and introducing himself when he finally returned to practice Monday from a torn ACL suffered last September.

Barkley, activated from the PUP list prior to Monday’s practice was on the field with his teammates and did some light work during individual drills. At one point, quarterback Daniel Jones even tapped Barkley on the helmet during a conditioning drill involving the offensive players, seemingly acknowledging that it was good to have the star running back back with the team.

Whether Barkley is with his teammates when the Giants take the field next month in the season-opener against the Denver Broncos remains to be seen, but the third-year back isn’t ruling anything out.

"“I don’t know,” Barkley admitted, whether he’ll be able to take the field in the opener. “Obviously, you guys know how I am as a competitor. You know what my thought process is. But, I’m unbelievably fortunate to play for a coaching staff, and an organization that is actually thinking about me, thinking about the rest of my career, the longevity of my career. When the time is time, that’ll be time.”"

Fortunately for Barkley and the NY Giants, Week 1 is 34 days away, which gives reason for optimism.

Why NY Giants star RB Saquon Barkley is optimistic a Week 1 return is possible

“My mindset is definitely hopeful,” Barkley said. “It’s definitely better being able to practice now, than later on in camp.”

NY Giants head coach Joe Judge said Monday that if the medical staff clears Barkley to play in any of the team’s three preseason games, that he would like to see his star running back get some reps before the games start for real.

"“The thing is,” Judge said. “Before you get hit in the first game at full speed when the speed does elevate, we want to go out there and just get you used to the tempo of the game, the pace of the game, get you a catch, get you hit, get the feel of being tackled. That’s natural preparation. You don’t want to put someone in a situation where they’re just getting the gauntlet out there getting hit, but that’s part of actually preparation, your body understanding and feeling the flow of how to get hit, how to fall, how to recover after that.“So, am I looking to put Saquon into something that’s not going to be in his best interest? Absolutely not, but at some point the doctors say, ‘He’s ready to play,’ and if we have the opportunity to get him in at a certain point, we will. But I’m not going to press that timetable.”"

During Barkley’s rookie season, he suffered a hamstring injury in practice that kept him out of the NY Giants’ final three preseason games that summer, so if he isn’t able to suit up for any game action in August, he isn’t viewing that as any sort of setback.

"“We didn’t have [preseason] last year,” Barkley said. “My rookie year, I only played in one, and had two carries, I wouldn’t be worried about that, if I didn’t play preseason, because I know that coaches and the training staff, and strength staff, if I didn’t show them something that showed I could keep myself safe and compete at a high level with my teammates.”"

Monday, regardless of what happens next month, was a major step for Barkley and for the NY Giants, roughly 11 months after he tore his ACL at Soldier Field.

“The best part of it for me,” Barkley said. “Is getting back out there with my teammates, being able to get back out there and do what I love.”

Matt Lombardo is FanSided’s National NFL Insider and writes Between The Hash Marks each Wednesday. Email Matt: Matt.Lombardo@FanSided.com