Running Back Saquon Barkley
Q: How you feeling?
A: How I'm feeling? I'm feeling pretty good. It felt good to get out there on Sunday. Obviously, a short week. Just trying to get my body back and get ready for Thursday night.
Q: Is there anything you're feeling? Do you feel soreness coming off your first game?
A: I mean, I haven't gotten tackled in a whole year or played in a football game in a whole year. Obviously, I didn't play the full game. I probably played like 25 to 30 snaps, but there's always going to be some soreness. Definitely a quick turn around this week, but that's why I've got to be a pro and get my body ready and take care of my body.
Q: Did you miss having that feeling and waking up and being sore from getting hit?
A: Yeah, a little bit actually. You just miss being out there (and) everything that comes along with it when you don't play football for a long time. (I) accomplished that milestone of getting back out there. Obviously, I was upset about the loss. My mom and dad and family members made me realize that we were able to come out the game healthy and (my) goal was to play Week 1 and I did that. Now, it goes on from there.
Q: When you went back and watched the film, what did you see in terms of your runs and what are your takeaways?
A: I went back, watched film, obviously you always can improve in your game. I feel like I can hit some stuff up a little bit more. Just kind of was knocking rust off, that's what I was kind of just seeing. We've got to get the run game going against a very talented defense – probably one of the best defenses in the league. That's going to be important to get your run game going. Watch film, learn from what I did, get the rust off and try to do a better job this week.
Q: How explosive did you feel and how explosive did you look to yourself? The reality is, you haven't played and you're coming off a serious injury. How did it look to you?
A: My explosiveness to me is not a problem. I feel like it's all there still. I didn't really give myself the opportunity or had an opportunity to break a long one, so I guess I couldn't show that. Just got to stick with the game plan, stick with the runs, take the dirty runs. When I get the opportunity to make a big play, make big play. That's something I wrote down in my notes this week is obviously with coming back and knocking the rust off and getting the feel back of the game, it's breaking tackles, getting back to what I do best and find a way to be productive and help the team.
Q: You mentioned the limited workload which I'm sure was not a surprise to you with the limited number of snaps. How anxious are you to be able to get back to your more normal amount of snaps?
A: I'm just listening to the coaches. I'm fully aware of it being a long season. Especially with the added game, playing 17 games this year. I'm just listening to the coaching staff, listening to the trainers, taking it one day at a time and trying to get my body ready and get ready for Thursday.
Q: You told us last week that last season you overreacted in Week 2 and tried to do too much after a frustrating first game. How do you go against doing that again after Sunday?
A: Obviously the frustration was in a loss. Me personally, obviously you want to come back and rush for this amount of running yards and touchdowns and all of that to help your team win, but for me, I really don't see any frustrations. We came back, we watched film, we learn from it, move on, we got a short week, so you've got to have short memory. Especially in weeks like this. For me, it's just take it and roll with it, learn from it, move on, get the rust out and get out there on Thursday against a divisional opponent and try to come out with a win.
Q: How do you know that you're ready to play a second game in five days?
A: Thursday. When I'm out there, I feel like the warming up and all that stuff would definitely indicate it. Because in here, you're not really running full speed just with the nature of the short week. Just keep the communication with doctors and the trainers and listen to them. Definitely when I'm able to start moving around a little bit more, see how my body feels and see how my body reacts.
Q: How much can you handle in regard to playtime this week? This is a really awkward situation, and I don't know if you know of anybody who has ever come back from this serious of an injury and had to play two games in four days. How do you handle that? Do you expect it to be around the same as last week?
A: Yeah, that's a great question. I don't think the schedule is ideal for coming back off a major knee injury to have two games back-to-back, but that's what it is. That's what's in front of me and that's the challenge I have to face. To the question of my workload and how much can I handle, it's easier for me to stay up here and say, 'I don't know, just listen to the coaches.' When you're in the game and your adrenalines going and you start getting a rhythm and you start feeling yourself again, that can go from less reps or more reps, I don't know to be honest. I'm not in that decision, I don't make that decision, I'm just playing my role by showing up on Thursday and the plays that I do get, try to help my team to the best of my capability.
Q: For you, what are the challenges of knocking off the rust and getting in the rhythm when you're not getting as many touches and as many reps?
A: That's hard, it is hard, but that's part of it. Especially coming in off an injury and not playing for a little bit, but like I said before, I've preached multiple times, we have a great the organization here and great coaching staff that is looking out for my best interest at heart. Obviously, I want to go out there and try to be that do it all guy and help the team win, but it's a nature of what I'm coming off of. The way I get back into the flow of that is just by taking the plays that I get and trying to capitalize as much as I can and staying locked in on the sideline when I'm not in, mentally and physically. Every time I do get in, go back to just trying to make those plays.
Q: Do you have anything planned for Monday which is the one-year anniversary of when you got your first knee brace or anything?
A: I didn't even know Monday was the one-year anniversary to be honest. No, I don't have anything planned special. I guess you could say, 'special day,' but no I really don't. Thank you for making me aware of that.
Q: You and (Quarterback) Daniel (Jones) collectively had one of your best games against Washington late in 2019. How close are you to getting that back and what has to happen for you to get back to that theme?
A: We've got to capitalize. We're talented, we know the talent that we have, we trust the coaching staff that we have, but it's on us to go out there and capitalize. That's offense, defense and special teams. I feel like (if) we're able to do that more consistent the seasons going to play out how we want to play out. I think that's where we find ourselves – whether it's from when I've been here, or the last two years, or even last week. Just those situations we need to capitalize on – and that puts yourself behind in ball games or puts yourself out in position to win games. We have the talent, we have the play makers, I think you guys saw what (Wide Receiver Sterling Shepard) Shep is able to do in the slot. (Wide Receiver Kenny Golladay) K.G. making plays, (Quarterback Daniel Jones) D.J. making big throws, the list goes on and on. We have so much talent on this team, so we've just got to go out there and capitalize so we can be able to show our talent and show how special we can be as an offense and a team as a whole.
Q: Do you feel old now that they've (Whitehall High School) retired your jersey?
A: No, I don't feel old. That was a very cool moment for me to go back home and get my jersey retired.
