Adrian Peterson helping Giants’ Saquon Barkley with rehab

One of the more overlooked parts of the New York Giants’ recent success is what they are doing it without star running back Saquon Barkley.

Barkley was, of course, lost for the season in Week 2 when he went down with a torn ACL.

Many have already expressed a confidence in Barkley’s future whenever he is able to return to the field. However, despite Barkley’s work ethic and drive, many doubted if the young running back would be the same when he came back due to the severity of the injury — especially given his running style is built around jukes and cuts.

One of the best to ever come back from an injury of that magnitude was Adrian Peterson. The future Hall of Famer suffered the same injury back in 2011 and later managed to return without missing much of a beat.

“To be that poster child for [ACL recovery] is what I envisioned,” Peterson told TMZ. “Because now people, they look at it, and they say, ‘You know what? I can do that. I’ll be able to come back.’”

Peterson has already reached out to Barkley about his comeback from injury.

Peterson, of course, is a big fan of Barkley and knew the Penn State product had a bright future when they met as opponents for the first time in 2018.

Barkley isn’t the only one who Peterson is making a point to help as he is also trying to help Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and former Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.

Recently, retired Giants receiver Victor Cruz told Giants Wire that he planned on reaching out to Barkley as well.

Going through an injury of that magnitude is always devastating and there was an outcry of support for Barkley the week he went down. The support from Cruz, Peterson and many others will certainly lift Barkley’s spirits as he continues his road back to the playing field.