New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley was carried off the field by trainers after a run early in the first quarter. He left the game against the Chicago Bears with a right knee injury and was in serious pain.
The Giants said Barkley was undergoing X-rays on his knee. He will undergo more tests Monday, the team said.
Barkley was hurt as he ran toward the sideline and was being tackled by Chicago Bears safety Eddie Jackson. He grabbed at the knee as he was headed to the ground.
Barkley was later carted to the locker room and slammed his fist in disgust. He had four rushes for 28 yards before exiting.
This came moments after Barkley was forced to miss a play when he landed on his left arm.
The Bears had their own running back issues. David Montgomery tried to hurdle a lineman, was clipped and tackled with his head hitting the turf first. He went to the medical tent and then the locker room.
The Bears said he was questionable to return with a neck injury.
It has been a rough start to the season for Barkley and the Giants. The star running back rushed for 6 yards on 15 carries in the opener and was criticized publicly by former Giants great Tiki Barber for his blocking. Barkley was hit behind the line of scrimmage on 11 of the 15 carries, and had eight negative runs.
Barkley’s first run again went for negative yards on Sunday in Chicago and the Giants trailed 10-0 when he left the contest.
Barkley, 23, is in his third professional season after being selected with the second-overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft. After a huge rookie season where he accumulated more than 2,000 total yards from scrimmage, he was hampered by a high ankle sprain last year.
The Giants were expected to build their offense this season around Barkley, the talented back who general manager Dave Gettleman considered a transcendent talent and future “gold jacket” player.