The New York Giants listed running back Saquon Barkley (ankle) as “doubtful” for Monday night’s game against the Seattle Seahawks, but he still has his sights set on playing.
“I think that is the smart thing to do business-wise,” Barkley told reporters this week when asked if he should wait until he’s 100 percent. “I wouldn’t question anybody telling me that I should do that but at the end of the day, it’s my life. I make the decisions, so I love this game and I feel like if it’s good to play, go out there and play. So, I’m trying my best (to play).
Part of Barkley’s motivation to play may be his contract, which has several production incentives tied to it. The team also needs to win for some of those to kick in, so it would be in his best interest to return to the field.
But as much as Barkley wants to play, he’s also not going to put himself at further risk if his body isn’t feeling up to par.
On the flip side of that, if he does feel capable of playing, Barkley feels it should be his choice.
“Yeah, I feel like it’s my body, my choice. It sounds crazy saying that right there,” he said with a laugh. “But the reality of it is if I can go — If my body is telling me to go out there and play then yeah, that’s what I’d like to do.
“But if anybody else is in the situation of, say if some people are in the situation of, they don’t have a contract behind it and they’re doing it for business reasons, I respect that, too. Probably is the smart thing to do, to be honest, but that’s not in my makeup and how I view it.”
Head coach Brian Daboll said this week that Barkley will be a game-time decision despite the doubtful designation, so the door remains slightly cracked for the running back to play. If he doesn’t, the next opportunity will come on Sunday when the Giants head down to Florida to take on the Miami Dolphins.
