Giants’ Saquon Barkley on health compared to 2021: ‘It’s not even close’

The change is drastic and the feeling is very different.

At this time last year, Saquon Barkley was on a pitch count. He wasn’t able to practice with the Giants until the second week of August, and he spent large portions of training camp rehabbing his surgically repaired right knee. He frequently was on his own, just hoping to be ready for the regular season.

Now?

“I would say that compared to last year, it’s not even close,” the former No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 draft said on Friday after a light practice.

Barkley is coming off two mostly lost seasons. A torn ACL ended his year in the second game of 2020. He appeared in 13 games last season, but was a shell of his electric self, managing just four touchdowns, a 3.7 yards-per-carry average and 593 rushing yards. He received more than 20 carries just once, in the second-to-last game of the year, an ugly 29-3 loss to the Bears.

He made headlines this week, going off on his detractors on the “2nd Wind” podcast, saying his mindset is, “F–k everybody. I’m ready to go crazy.”

The critics have clearly bothered Barkley, but so has his lack of production and his limitations due to injury the last two seasons. Very little has gone right, for him and for the Giants.

“Just probably being fed up and not even with like the outside noise, but just even with having to sit out games and rehab and all that, all the bad stuff I guess you could say,” the 25-year-old Barkley said, when asked if his mindset has changed. “I guess I’m kind of just fed up with that. So, that kind of just takes me to a place where I am right now. I’m just happy, enjoying life, enjoying the game I love, and I just want to go out there and have fun.”

He insisted he’s in a strong frame of mind, that his improved health and belief in the players around him will lead to a bounce-back season. The Giants’ offensive line figures to be improved following the additions of center Jon Feliciano and offensive guard Mark Glowinski, and the drafting of right tackle Evan Neal. That unit should be able to create more holes and opportunities for Barkley.

It is uncertain whether Barkley or any of the other Giants starters will play in the preseason finale Sunday against the Jets. New head coach Brian Daboll wasn’t willing to offer his plans for the game. Either way, it won’t change anything for the star running back, who received five touches in the preseason opener against the Patriots and has looked more like his old self this summer.

He’s excited about the upcoming season, and unlike last year at this time, Barkley has been able to fully prepare for the 2022 campaign throughout July and August. He didn’t want to make excuses for last season, though it is clear there were contributing factors for his lack of production.

“I really didn’t have as much of a time just with how the rehab process went with my knee to get myself ready [last year]. And now I don’t have that [problem],” said Barkley, who will be entering the final season of his rookie contract. “I have the whole camp to come out every single day and do a joint practice against another team, to go against [our defense] and all those guys. Find ways to get better and build that chemistry with [our offensive line].

“I’m ready,” he later added. “I’m ready to go.”