Giants' Saquon Barkley's Ankle Injury Diagnosed as Sprain; Will Undergo MRI

New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley suffered an ankle injury Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first half and did not return.

After the 32-31 win, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Barkley had a high ankle sprain and that he will undergo an MRI on Monday.

"I'm not out for the season," Barkley told reporters after the game. "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 was spotted hobbling on the field with his crutches after the Giants won in dramatic fashion on a missed Matt Gay kick:

Barkley had eight carries for 10 yards and four catches for 27 yards before exiting.

The 22-year-old New York City native was selected by the Giants with the second overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft following a standout career at Penn State. As expected, he made a huge impact as a rookie, leading the league with 2,028 yards from scrimmage and scoring 15 touchdowns.

Barkley remained mostly durable throughout his time with the Nittany Lions, appearing in 38 of a possible 40 games during his three years in college. He missed time during training camp last year with a hamstring injury, but he played all 16 games during the regular season.

If the latest ailment forces him back to the sideline, Wayne Gallman should receive a majority of the touches in the New York backfield. It could also lead to some additional opportunities for fullback Elijhaa Penny in short-yardage situations.