The NY Giants sent a message to their doubters on Sunday afternoon when they scored 24 unanswered points, which resulted in the franchise's biggest comeback in the Super Bowl era. While the morale may be high around Big Blue Nation, fans are concerned about the health of running back Saquon Barkley.
In the win over Arizona, Barkley rushed for 63 yards on 17 attempts, caught six of seven targets for 29 yards, and crossed the goal line twice. Unfortunately, Saquon's show-stopping performance did not end as anticipated. Barkley was helped off the field after his right ankle turned awkwardly at the bottom of a pile with over a minute remaining.
While Barkley avoided a major injury, it has since been reported that he'll be out for the next three weeks. This of course includes the Thursday Night Football matchup with San Francisco. With No. 26 sidelined, here are four players who must step up to help this offense out:
4. RB Matt Breida
With Barkley unable to go vs. the 49ers, this opens the door for veteran backup running back Matt Breida to earn extensive playing time. How will he perform in primetime against a strong SF defensive front and in the following games?
Breida went undrafted in 2017 after a disappointing senior year at Georgia Southern, but he has found opportunities in the NFL after signing with the 49ers. During his tenure in San Francisco, he rushed for 1,902 yards and six touchdowns in three seasons. He was traded to the Miami Dolphins in 2020 before signing a one-year deal with the Buffalo Bills.
The 28-year-old RB is now in his second season with the G-Men. Breida rushed for 220 yards and a touchdown last year during the regular season. He also had a touchdown in Big Blue's Divisional Round loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
We'll have to wait and see if offensive coordinator Mike Kafka provides Daniel Jones with other options in the backfield by unloading the Giants' running back depth in Gary Brightwell and rookie Eric Gray. For now, though, look for Breida to get the bulk of the carries. With his experience, we could see him fill in nicely while No. 26 is injured.