Saquon Barkley wants to show himself that he’s still got it in the Giants’ final three games.
The slumping Giants running back candidly admitted Thursday that he wants to finish this frustrating season strong to pull something positive out of the year.
It was an admission of how poorly Barkley’s fourth season has gone and also a transparent revelation of where he is mentally — and where he’s trying to go.
“I want to — and I might sound a little selfish — but I want to go out there and finish on a high note for myself, too,” Barkley, 24, said. “Obviously, for the team, I want to go out there and try to win all the games that we can. But just for me, [I want] to go out there and finish on a high note, continue to build that confidence and lead into the offseason and get myself prepared and ready for the rest of my career.”
Barkley’s season-high rushing yards for one game is 64. He has four total touchdowns in 10 games. Devontae Booker (506 yards, 4.5 per carry) has been much more effective than Barkley (429, 3.7 per carry) on the ground. There is a chance the Giants will go two straight seasons with a different back as their leading rusher, including Wayne Gallman’s 682 last year.
Barkley thought he was on his way to a major comeback from last year’s torn right ACL when he torched the New Orleans Saints for 126 total yards and two TDs in a Week 4 road overtime win. But he stepped on Cowboys corner Jourdan Lewis’ foot and badly sprained his left ankle in Week 5, missed four games, and has been a non-factor since.
“I felt very confident that I was going to be able to have a big performance for the team and hopefully be able to turn the season around,” Barkley said. “I run a route, take my eyes off the field for a little bit, step on someone’s foot, out for [four] more weeks.”
Now Barkley is simply trying to find some hope to latch onto before the season ends. He’ll try to find it in Philadelphia and then in Chicago, on the same Soldier Field grass where he tore his knee last season, putting a hard stop on the former No. 2 overall pick’s career.
JAYLON SMITH: ‘NOTHING CAN STOP ME’
Former Cowboys captain Jaylon Smith is thrilled to be a Giant and confident that he’ll prove Dallas and Green Bay wrong for cutting him, although he’s only motivated to prove himself and his biggest supporters right.
“It’s a humbling experience,” Smith, 26, said in his first Giants interview at the podium Thursday. “[This is] my first year really dealing with the politics and business side of the National Football League. But I’ve been through so much, nothing can stop me. I’m gonna continue to work and continue to learn. I’m young and I’ve got a lot of ball left, and I’m playing at a high level.”
Smith made four tackles on 17 defensive snaps in his Giants debut, starting with a ferocious rundown of former Cowboys teammate Tony Pollard. Smith immediately stood up and jawed with his old mates on the Dallas sideline.
“Being able to make a dynamic play on my second play out there was a great opportunity,” Smith said with a smile. “Getting a chance to hit somebody who just happened to be my former teammate, that was a good thing. I got a little rowdy. All respect, though, all respect.”
Smith said he was working out in his hometown of Fort Wayne, Ind., when the Giants called to sign him last week, but his phone was off. Fortunately, he eventually got the message. And he’s already feeling right at home in New Jersey. He has more Giants ties than one would think.
His older brother, running back Rod Smith, was with the team from May-September 2019. Leonard Williams’ agent, Brandon Parker of Vayner Sports, is Smith’s cousin.
And Jaylon, a former Fighting Irish standout in college, noted “there’s a lot of Notre Dame love here” in both the front office and on the roster.
As for any difficulties adjusting to a new defense and team, Smith reiterated he can handle whatever is asked of him.
“I’m a pro’s pro. I’ll always be ready for the opportunity,” he said. “Getting here, learning the system, the coaches are doing a great job of giving me the basics and letting me play my game.”
