In their season opener, the New York Giants’ offense faltered significantly without Saquon Barkley, failing to score a single touchdown in their defeat to the Minnesota Vikings. The Giants’ quarterback, Daniel Jones, has been particularly scrutinized following the game due to his underwhelming performance, which included two interceptions—one of which was a particularly damaging pick-six.
Despite now being a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, Barkley has remained in contact with Jones, whom he considers a close friend. Following the Giants’ 28-6 loss, Barkley took it upon himself to reach out to Jones with words of encouragement. During a press conference on Thursday, Barkley shared his thoughts on the situation, emphasizing that there are no ill feelings between him and his former team.
Barkley, who has been making waves with his impressive performance since joining the Eagles, expressed his support for Jones, saying, “I was there for six years, got a lot of friends there, so no bad feelings for those guys. Hopefully, they’re able to bounce back.” He further elaborated on his conversation with Jones, mentioning, “Yeah, I talked to him. I’m really good friends with DJ. Obviously, he didn’t have the game that he wanted. From me, was just letting him know that—’just go out there and play free.
Even though Barkley now plays for the Eagles, one of the Giants’ biggest rivals, he made it clear that his support for Jones remains strong. The scrutiny surrounding Jones’ performance has been significant, and Barkley’s gesture of reaching out demonstrates his commitment to his friendships and his sportsmanship, despite the competitive nature of the league.
Looking ahead, Jones and the Giants will aim to recover from their setback as they prepare for their Week 2 matchup against the Washington Commanders. On the other side, Barkley and the Eagles will be gearing up to host the Atlanta Falcons in their next game.
The Giants and Eagles are set to face each other twice this season, as is customary. Their first clash will occur on October 20 at MetLife Stadium, with the second meeting scheduled for January 5, marking the end of the regular season. This season’s matchups between the two teams are highly anticipated, especially with Barkley now playing for the Eagles and the ongoing rivalry between the two teams.