By Andrew Rosario

 

For the second week in a row, the New York Giants put themselves in a position to come away with a win. They had a chance to close the gap against the Pittsburgh Steelers the Monday night before when Daniel Jones marched them downfield in a 19 play drive. On the Steelers 4 yard line, Jones gets hit and the ball was intercepted in the end zone as they would fall 26-16.

 

Big Blue traveled to the windy city to face the Chicago Bears who were coming off a come from behind victory 27-24 at on point trailing by 17 points. Chicago put up 17 points before the Giants got on the board in the third quarter with a Graham Gano 39 field goal. Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky threw for 2 touchdown, 190 yards and 2 interceptions. Daniel Jones finished his day throwing for 241 yards completing 25 of 40 passes and 1 touchdown. 

 

The loss of the game was bad. Losing their most important offensive player in third year running back Saquon Barkley was worse. Barkley was plagued with a high ankle sprain last year and when he did return, he wasn’t quite the same. The injury he sustained Sunday will cost him the rest of this season. On the first play of the second quarter, Barkley took the handoff from Jones. Running right, he his met by Bears safety Eddie Jackson. As he planted his right, Barkley is taken down as his knee buckled. Barkley immediately grabbed the knee writhing in pain. He was helped backed to the bench before being carted to the lockerroom. 

 

 

 

 

The worst fears would come Monday when it was revealed through a MRI Barclay tore his ACL, partial tear of his meniscus and has a strained MCL. The surgery will take place in a couple of weeks when the swelling and inflamation subsides. After the game, Jackson sent out a tweet. Prayers out to Saquon. I never play this game to seriously injure someone.”

 

With no Barkley, New York had problems moving the ball. They had the ball 4 times in the first half resulting 1 fumble, 2 punts and 1 interception. Yet, after another Gano field goal( 37 yards) got them within 4, (17-13). The Giants could have stolen the game. Jones moves them down to the Bears 10 yard line when he looks for Golden Tate in the end zone. Tate is called for offensive interference as the clock hit zero. 

 

 

Barkley wasn’t the only Giants casualty as wide Sterling Shepard suffered a turf toe right before halftime. After trying to play in the third quarter, he could not go on. First year head coach Joe Judge talked about losing Barclay for the rest of the year. “There’s definitely emotion attached to losing any player. You know how hard these guys work, how important it is to them, and how it impacts their lives. Saquon is obviously no different; he’s been voted a captain on this team and is very important to this team. He speaks for this team, and always holds the best interests of the team first. He exemplifies what it is to be a leader on and off the field for us. We’re going to miss having him on the grass, but we’re going to keep him involved as much as we can going forward.”

 

The team will look at ex-Eagles and Falcons Devonta Freeeman who is a solid runner and pass catcher. The 2014 4th round draft pick had his best year in 2016 running for over 1,000 yards, catching 54 for 462 and 11 total touchdowns 

 

As for the future of Barkley, who the Giants selected as the number 2 pick in the 2018 draft, he faces a long rehabilitaion road. He was known for record number of squats coming out of Penn State. Knowing his work ethic, expect him to come back stronger. 

 

The Giants were not the only team that suffered major injuries. In taking on the New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa likely tore his ACL in the first half said head coach Kyle Shanahan said. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo missed the second half after suffering a high-ankle sprainand is expected to miss next week when they come back to MetLife Stadium to face the Giants. Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey exited early against the Buccaneers with an ankle injury. He had a MRI Monday. Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams suffered a hamstring injury in the second half against the Lions and did not return. 

 

Due to the Covid19 Pandemic, there were no pre-season games. Contact in training camps were limited. You have to wonder if that is a reason so many players are getting hurt, some leading to season ending injuries.