The New York Giants will face the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday night without their star running back Saquon Barkley, who has been ruled out with an ankle injury. Barkley suffered the injury in the fourth quarter of the Giants’ comeback win over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2 and is expected to miss at least three weeks. The Giants will have to rely on their backup running backs to fill the void left by Barkley, who is one of the best players in the NFL.
Matt Breida Leads the Giants Backfield
The Giants signed Matt Breida as a free agent in the offseason, hoping he could provide some depth and versatility to their backfield. Breida, who spent his first four seasons with the 49ers, is a speedy and elusive runner who can also catch passes out of the backfield. He has averaged 4.9 yards per carry in his career and has scored 16 touchdowns.
Breida is listed as the No. 2 running back on the Giants’ depth chart, but he will likely take over as the starter in Barkley’s absence. He has played 25 snaps in the first two games, carrying the ball six times for 24 yards and catching two passes for 15 yards. He will face his former team on Thursday night, which could motivate him to have a big game.
Gary Brightwell and Eric Gray Provide Depth and Potential
The Giants drafted two running backs in the 2023 NFL Draft: Gary Brightwell in the sixth round and Eric Gray in the seventh round. Both rookies have shown some flashes of potential in limited action so far.
Brightwell, who played college football at Arizona, is a powerful and physical runner who can break tackles and move the chains. He has played 14 snaps in the first two games, carrying the ball four times for 13 yards and catching one pass for nine yards. He also plays on special teams, where he has made two tackles.
Gray, who played college football at Oklahoma, is a dynamic and explosive runner who can make big plays with his speed and agility. He has played 11 snaps in the first two games, carrying the ball three times for 12 yards and catching one pass for six yards. He also returned a kickoff for 23 yards in Week 1.
The Giants will likely use a committee approach to replace Barkley, with Breida leading the way and Brightwell and Gray getting some touches as well. The trio will have to step up and produce against a tough 49ers defense that ranks fourth in rushing yards allowed per game (77.5) and third in yards per carry allowed (3.1).
Giants Offense Faces Challenges Without Barkley
Barkley’s injury is a huge blow to the Giants offense, which relies heavily on his playmaking ability and versatility. Barkley is not only a great runner, but also a threat as a receiver and a blocker. He can create big plays out of nothing, keep defenses honest, and open up opportunities for other players.
Barkley had a slow start to the season, as he was coming off a torn ACL that sidelined him for most of 2022. He had only 13 carries for 41 yards and three catches for seven yards in Week 1 against the Denver Broncos. However, he showed signs of improvement in Week 2 against the Cardinals, rushing for 64 yards on 16 carries and catching four passes for 26 yards before leaving with an injury.
The Giants will have to adjust their offense without Barkley, who accounted for nearly a third of their total yards last season. They will need more production from their passing game, which has been inconsistent so far. Quarterback Daniel Jones has thrown for 467 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception, but he has also fumbled three times and been sacked six times. Wide receiver Kenny Golladay, who signed a four-year, $72 million contract with the Giants in March, has only nine catches for 102 yards and no touchdowns. Tight end Evan Engram, who missed the first two games with a calf injury, is expected to return on Thursday night and could provide a boost.
The Giants offense will face a tough challenge on Thursday night against the 49ers defense, which ranks sixth in total yards allowed per game (291) and seventh in points allowed per game (17). The 49ers have also forced four turnovers and recorded five sacks in their first two games.
