The New York Giants nightmare scenario came true in the Week 2 loss against the Chicago Bears.
Saquon Barkley, the star running back who was supposed to be the focal point on offense this season with a new coaching staff installed, tore his ACL in the second quarter of Sunday’s game in Chicago, which the Bears won 17-13.
This injury brings forth many questions about the Giants’ future and Barkley’s future as a Giant. General manage Dave Gettleman drafted Barkley with the No. 2 pick in the 2018 draft.
Many criticized him for taking a running back with such a high pick, considering how many other needs the Giants had at the time, how injury-prone the position is, and how many excellent running backs have recently been drafted in the later rounds.
Barkley was supposed to be the safety net for second-year quarterback Daniel Jones this year. New offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, who helped turn the Dallas Cowboys into a dominant rushing team before being fired as head coach, was expected to build the entire game plan this year around Barkley’s incredibly skillset.
All these plans will have to wait until 2021 at the earliest.
The only other options the Giants currently have at RB are Wayne Gallman, who has only 80 carries over the last two seasons and was inactive against the Bears, and 29-year-old journeyman Dion Lewis.
