Saquon Barkley has hit an important milestone in his return from an injury that sidelined him for most of last season.Barkley returned to Giants practice on Monday for the first time since tearing his ACL and spraining his MCL in Week 2 of the 2020 season against the Bears. The 24-year-old running back was limited during the se sion, and while the Giants D.J. Reader Jersey aren’t planning on putting him in any live drills yethe did get to show off his cutting and ball carrying abilities.PSA: content is back New York Giants (@Giants) Additionally, the Giants activated Barkley from the PUP list because of his return to practice. Had Barkley remained on the PUP list into the regular season, he would’ve had to mi s at least the first six games of the year. Now, his activation opens the door for a potential return as early as Week 1.But will Barkley be ready to play at that early stage of the season? Here’s what he and the Giants are saying about his status as New Yorkgets ready to dive into its preseason schedule.2021 STANDARD FANTASY RANKINGS: | | | | | | Will Saquon Barkley play for the Giants in Week 1?Barkley’s Week 1 status is looking decidedly more promising thanit did just a month ago. While Barkley and Giants coach Joe Judge wouldn’t commit to Wyatt Ray Jersey a timetable for hisreturn, the starting running backsaid he is “definitely hopeful” to suit up in Week 1 after feeling good in his return to practice on Aug. 9.Saquon Barkley says he feels good following his first practice in close to a year. He still played coy and said he didnt know about being ready for Week 1. But Barkley admitted getting into a practice more than a month before the opener that hes definitely hopeful. Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) This comes just a few days after reported that the Giants were anticipating Barkley to return to the lineup by Week 3 at the latest barring a setback.You’ll probably see him anywhere from Week 1 to Week 3. So, probably by Week 3, Saquon Barkley should be Vonn Bell Jersey on the field.It certainly seems like Barkley is trending in the right direction. Le s than a month earlier, he was completely non-committal about the potential of a Week 1 return.I dont know. I gue s well see, Barkley said of his Week 1 availabilityon July 19, .Whenever Im able to get out there, make sure that Im 110 percent not just for the safety and health of myself and my well-being, but just so I can go out there and compete at a high level, and show the world who Saquon is again.But now, it looks like there will at least be a chance for him to do that. And though Judge and the Giants won’t guarantee Barkley will play in the season opener, the coach is pleased with Barkley’s progre s to date.”He’s in my office all the time. ‘I can do this; get me in this; Cincinnati Bengals Home Office can I do this?’ He’s already out here today asking about doing a couple of different drills today,”Judge said after Monday’s practice. “And I’m like, ‘You already know that’s not going to be permitted, Saquon. We gotta back you off a little bit.'”But look, he’s making progre s. We’re happy with what he’s doing. He’s got a great attitude and has been a tremendous leader.”Barkley’s status will bear watching in the lead-up to Week 1. He almost certainly won’t see any action during the Giants’ three-game preseason schedule, but if he continues to do well in practicehe may suit up in Week 1. Either way, it doesn’t seem like he’ll be sidelined too long into the 2021 NFL season.IYER: Saquon Barkley’s injury historyDuring his NFL career, Barkley has mi sed a total of 17 games over three seasons. Fourteen of those contests came last year as a result of hisknee injury.Below is a brief summation of the injuries Barkley has Mike Thomas Jersey dealt with during his NFL career to date, .DateInjuryGames mi sedAug 13, 2018Hamstring0 (injury occurred during camp)Sep 22, 2019High ankle sprain3Sep 20, 2020ACL tear/MCL sprain14Additionally, Barkley suffered a couple of ankle injuries in college. He mi sed just two games during his freshman season as a result of those injuries.