A 15-yard touchdown pass to Saquon Barkley in the final minute of regulation should’ve been a game-winner for the New York Giants. Instead, a quick drive into New York territory for the Carolina Panthers set up kicker Graham Gano with a 63-yard field goal to win 33-31. He nailed it.
Rubbing some salt on the wound was the fact that Barkley seemed to injure his right knee on the touchdown for naught. Fortunately for the Giants, team officials confirmed to FOX’s Jay Glazer that Barkley would be good to go when New York returns to the field on Thursday Night Football against the Eagles in Week 6.
With 1:08 left in the fourth quarter, Barkley jumped into the end zone and showed off every bit of his 41-inch vertical. The touchdown and ensuing extra point gave the Giants a 31-30 lead, but Barkley came down and his right knee appeared to buckle. The running back immediately went to the ground in pain.
TD Saquon Barkley.
— Ashley Stroehlein (@ashstro) October 7, 2018
Giants up 31-30.#NYGvsCAR pic.twitter.com/45pBIxrlIF
Barkley stayed down for a while before jogging off the field under his own power. But he was clearly in pain and was immediately checked by trainers on the Giants bench.
After the game, Giants coach Pat Shurmur said the injury doesn’t look to be serious:
Pat Shurmur says Saquon Barkley is fine. He was moving around well after the game. He got banged up on his late touchdown catch.
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) October 7, 2018
Barkley didn’t return to the game, but that was because the Giants offense never saw the field again.
Up next for New York is a Thursday Night Football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, so Barkley will have four days to get ready for more action. If he’s as fine as Shurmur says he is, that should be no problem.