Saquon Barkley Injury Update Doesn't Look Optimistic for Thursday Night Football Game With Patriots

The New York Giants will be in a tough spot in Week 6, facing the New England Patriots in Foxborough on Thursday Night Football. The team is dealing with a number of injuries on offense currently, and will most likely be without Saquon Barkley for at least another week as he recovers from a high-ankle sprain.

The Giants will be traveling on a short week likely without Saquon Barkley, Sterling Shepard and Wayne Gallman, and possibly without Evan Engram (knee).

They face a Patriots defense that's allowed two touchdowns total in five games.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) October 8, 2019

Barkley has been trying hard to beat a 4-8 week timetable for return from his injury, but will now likely sit out his third straight game as the Giants play on a short week. Barkley will have an additional 10 days before New York plays again on Oct. 20, at home against the Cardinals in Week 7. The Giants don't have their bye until Week 11.

The team probably doesn't want to rush Barkley back, despite its 2-3 start to the season that currently has it only one game out of first place in the NFC East. Barkley was off to a strong start in his second NFL season, with 311 scrimmage yards and one touchdown before going down with the ankle sprain in Week 3 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

With Sterling Shepard and RB2 Wayne Gallman also expected to sit, the Giants will be extremely shorthanded for this game.

Jonathan Hilliman is now their top option at RB, and their receivers are Golden Tate, Darius Slayton, Cody Latimer and Cody Core.

TE Evan Engram's a ?, too https://t.co/mh4oZFW2Sm
— Zack Cox (@ZackCoxNESN) October 8, 2019

Wayne Gallman Injury Update for Thursday Night Football

The Giants' backfield was dealt another blow in Week 5, when Wayne Gallman went down with a concussion. The short turnaround with Thursday Night Football caused Gallman to be quickly ruled out for the game, as the Giants will now turn to undrafted rookie Jon Hilliman to start against the Patriots.

Hilliman averaged 3.5 yards per carry over 485 college carries, playing for Boston College and Rutgers, and could have a rough outing against a dominant Patriots defense, in a game where the Giants will likely be forced into a pass-heavy approach. New York is also likely to be without Sterling Shepard (concussion) and Evan Engram (knee), meaning they will field a severely depleted offense against the reigning champs.

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