SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The plot thickens a bit with Saquon Barkley.
The Giants star running back is dealing with a mild high right ankle sprain, a source confirmed, which is not the same as the low or “ordinary’’ ankle sprain ESPN previously reported after Barkley was injured late in last Sunday’s 31-28 comeback victory over the Cardinals.
A high ankle sprain is usually far more serious than a low ankle sprain but this particular issue for Barkley is not as bad as it could have been, a source said.
Barkley revealed the high ankle sprain diagnosis in an interview on Thursday Night Football on Prime.
Barkley was not active for Thursday night’s game against the 49ers at Levi’s Stadium.
Coach Brian Daboll on Tuesday said Barkley was feeling much better and that he is a “fast healer.’’
The Giants do not play again until Oct. 2 and the belief is Barkley has a chance to return for that “Monday Night Football’’ game with the Seahawks — which he told Prime’s Taylor Rooks he expects to do.
Stream the game live on Thursday night on Amazon Prime Video
Ordinarily, a high ankle sprain can take upwards of one month to heal but Barkley’s sprain is less severe.
Barkley was injured with 1:12 remaining on his final rushing attempt, gaining two additional yards, helping to set up Graham Gano’s game-winning 34-yard field goal.
Dealing with this particular injury is nothing new for Barkley.
He missed three games in 2019 dealing with a right ankle sprain. In 2020, he missed 14 games after tearing his right ACL.
In 2021, he missed four games with a high left ankle sprain.