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Jordan Raanan, ESPN writer
GLENDALE, Ariz. — The New York Giants tied their biggest comeback in franchise history, coming back from 21 points down to beat the Arizona Cardinals 31-28 at State Farm Stadium on Sunday. It was an exciting victory for the visitors, except it came with a dark cloud over the possibility of losing their star running back. Saquon Barkley to an ankle injury.
Barkley, who scored two touchdowns (one rushing and one receiving), will undergo an MRI on Monday in Arizona to determine the severity of the injury and how much time he might miss, sources told ESPN.
Barkley’s ankle was swollen after the game, but the initial thought, in the words of one source, is that “it’s a normal (sprain), more than a high ankle sprain.”
It was clear Barkley was in pain as he took a cart to the X-ray room after limping off the field. X-rays of the ankle were negative, according to sources.
“I don’t know yet,” coach Brian Daboll said when asked about the severity of Barkley’s injury.
Barkley, who had the only sour face in the locker room after the Giants erased a 28-7 deficit to even their record, politely declined to comment on the injury, which occurred when his ankle was awkwardly sprained in the back of a stack during a race. in the middle with just over a minute left.
The Giants have a brief change this week and will remain in Arizona before traveling to San Francisco on Wednesday before Thursday night’s game against the 49ers. They then have 11 days before hosting the Seattle Seahawks on Oct. 2 on “Monday Night Football” at MetLife Stadium.
Barkley, 26, is playing on a revised franchise tag this year. He is set to become a free agent at the end of the season.
Barkley has a history of ankle injuries. He missed three games in 2019 with a right ankle injury and four games in 2021 with a left ankle injury.
An extended absence could hurt his value and the Giants’ long-term prospects.
Barkley had 17 carries for 63 yards and six receptions for 29 yards on Sunday, playing 65 of 67 offensive snaps (97%).
Meanwhile, the Giants potentially saved their season. After losing 40-0 to the Dallas Cowboys A week ago, New York found itself with a 20-0 deficit on Sunday. Those 60 points the Giants allowed before scoring their first point of the season were the second-most allowed before scoring to start a season since the 1970 merger, and the most since the 1978 Baltimore Colts (86).
For the third time in their history, the Giants came back from a 21-point deficit to win, having also done so during the 1945 and 1947 seasons. On Sunday, they did so behind a monster second half from the quarterback. Daniel Joneswho threw for a pair of scores and ran for another.
It all started with a 58-yard pass from Jones to the rookie Jalin Hyatt on the first offensive play of the second half.
“We always maintained confidence,” Jones said. “It was about getting back to simple execution: trust it, see it and take advantage of it. We had some opportunities to make plays in the first half. We didn’t. I knew they would be there. I just had to execute and give our guys a chance to make those plays. We did it and we built on it.”
The Giants totaled 358 yards in the second half, compared to 81 in the first.
“The finish these guys had…it was good to get a win,” Daboll said.