Saquan Barkley is on the other side of the rivalry now. That doesn’t mean he didn’t feel for his former teammate following what was a brutal start to 2024 for Daniel Jones and the New York Giants.
Speaking with reporters in front of his locker Thursday, Barkley, now happily a Philadelphia Eagle, said he spoke with Jones this week and offered him some encouragement:
Yeah, I talked to him. I’m really good friends with DJ. Obviously, he didn’t have the game that he wanted. For me it was just letting him know, ‘Just go out there and play free, and do what you do best.’
Jones’ first game back from the torn ACL that ended his 2023 season did not go well.
The Giants are already facing immense backlash for their decision to stick with Jones as their starter this season, enough that coach Brian Daboll had to confirm that Jones is indeed still the starter over backup Drew Lock entering Week 2.
In the Giants' disastrous 28-6 loss at home to Sam Darnold and the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1, Jones completed just 52.4 percent of his passes for 186 yards, no touchdowns, two interceptions and a 44.3 passer rating. One of his picks was returned for a touchdown. The offense completely sputtered without Barkley, who in just 14 games accounted for 10 of the team's 25 touchdowns on offense in 2023.
Barkley was far from the only past or current teammate to check in on Jones this week. Giants fans were waiting for the former No. 6 overall pick by the player’s entrance to vent their frustrations over his rough day. Others torched DJ jerseys in the parking lot.
Barkley feels for his friend — though he’s probably relieved to be out of East Rutherford, New Jersey, these days.
“I was there for six years,” he said. “I’ve got a lot of friends there. No bad feelings for those guys. Hopefully they’re able to bounce back.”
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