Saquon Barkley's status has been labeled as "week-to-week" after he injured his ankle against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2.
According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Barkley will miss Thursday Night Football against the San Francisco 49ers.
The Giants' inability to field their most explosive player for a road trip to face perhaps the strongest team in the NFC is bad news.
Nonetheless, there must have been a few sighs of relief that Barkley has not been ruled out for an extended period of time.
Especially after he inspired the Giants' comeback from a 20-0 deficit to defeat the Cards 31-28.
Barkley had 17 carries for 63 yards and a touchdown, as well as six catches for 29 yards and another touchdown.
No. 26 was also crucial to quarterback Daniel Jones' play-action throwing game, which helped him shred the Cardinals.
While being diagnosed with a "low-ankle sprain" is good news for Barkley and the Giants, Rapoport's colleague Mike Garafolo noted out that Barkley "missed four games in 2021 with a low ankle."
The Giants' head coach, Brian Daboll, and offensive coordinator, Mike Kafka, will be hoping Barkley is not out for as long this time.
Both are aware that the team lacks a game-changing running back. Jones received a lot of credit for spearheading the comeback, but Barkley was still the engine of the Giants' attack.