Giants running back Saquon Barkley will avoid surgery after getting a second opinion for his sprained ankle, according to NFL Network, which cited unidentified sources.
#Giants star RB Saquon Barkley (high-ankle sprain) returned from his visit with noted specialist Dr. Robert Anderson in Green Bay with a recommendation of no surgery, source said. The option of tightrope surgery — a la #Bama QB Tua Tagovailoa — had been one option.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 26, 2019
Barkley visited specialist Dr. Robert Anderson in Green Bay, who reportedly told the running back that he won't need surgery. NFL Network notes TightRope surgery was an option to help stabilize the ankle, which is a procedure Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had last year on his high ankle sprain.
Barkley is expected to continue rehabbing and miss the next four to six weeks.
The running back injured his ankle in the second quarter of Sunday's win over the Buccaneers and had to be helped to the locker room. He came back to the sideline using crutches and wearing a walking boot.
He told reporters after the game that he had a high ankle sprain in the same right ankle that he injured during his freshman year at Penn State. He missed only two games with that injury, which makes him optimistic he won't be out for long.
"I’m not out for the season," Barkley said (per NJ.com). "I’m going to do whatever I can to get back as quickly as possible. Not for myself, but for my team. That’s what I continue to think about. I caught myself getting a little upset on the sideline just because I wasn’t able to be out there with those guys."
Barkley, selected with the second overall pick in the 2018 draft, had rushed for team-high 227 yards, second in the NFL, and had one rushing touchdown in two games entering Week 3. He had eight carries for 10 yards and four receptions for 27 yards before leaving Sunday.
He led the league with 2,028 yards from scrimmage as a rookie and also scored 15 total touchdowns to earn 2018 NFL Rookie of the Year honors.
Wayne Gallman, who had five carries for 13 yards in Sunday's game and has only seven carries for 30 this season, is expected to carry the backfield workload in Barkley's absence.
The Giants (1-2) are will host the Redskins (0-3) at 1 p.m. ET Sunday.