One of the most heavy-utilized players in the NFL, the New York Giants are hoping to have running back Saquon Barkley available for Sunday’s season-opener against the Denver Broncos in East Rutherford, according to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Barkley has been working his way back from a torn ACL in his right knee, suffered in the team’s Week 2 loss to the Chicago Bears on September 20, 2020.

 

Entering his fourth professional season, the Whitehall native was one of the best tailbacks in recent college football history during his days at Penn State, winning the Ameche-Dayne Running Back of the Year Award twice in 2016 and 2017, earning B1G Offensive Player of the Year the same two years, and was recognized as a consensus All-American as a junior.

Behind Barkley, the Giants signed former Utah Ute Devontae Booker to a two-year deal in March and selected Arizona Wildcat Gary Brightwell, Jr. in the sixth round of the 2021 Draft.