An MRI confirmed the Giants’ worst fears Monday: Saquon Barkley tore the ACL in his right knee in Sunday’s loss to the Chicago Bears and is out for the season.
Barkley clearly was prepared for the devastating diagnosis, scrubbing his Instagram account of all posts but one: a Jan. 26 tribute to the late Kobe Bryant.
The message appeared to be that Barkley plans to channel Bryant’s famed “Mamba Mentality” in attacking his rehab by outworking the next man and dominating the task at hand.
“My father never allowed me to idolize any man … but Kobe is someone who I idolize and has helped me become the person I am today and the man I hope to be! #mambamentality #forever,” Barkley wrote in January after Bryant’s tragic death in a helicopter crash.
Bears safety Eddie Jackson, who tackled Barkley on Sunday’s fateful second quarter play, said he felt awful about the Giant back’s season-ending injury.
“Prayers out to @saquon I never play this game to seriously injure someone,” Jackson tweeted.
The Giants are bringing in former Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman for a visit and workout, according to a source.
Dion Lewis, Wayne Gallman and Eli Penny are the only healthy running backs on the Giants’ active roster, and they have Rod Smith on their practice squad.
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