Some who have watched Saquon Barkley suggest that he hasn’t returned to the form he showed before last year’s torn ACL, but Barkley rejected that notion after Sunday’s loss.

“It’s week whatever in the NFL, no one is 100 percent physically. That’s their opinion, but I know I am,” Barkley said, via WFAN.com.

The story opined the Giants were terrible before Barkley tore his ACL and they remain terrible through 12 games of this season even after Barkley's return. The story went on to say the Giants were playing without quarterback Daniel Jones and a pair of wide receivers, which would seem to set the stage for Barkley to put the offense on his shoulders, but he managed 55 rushing yards on 11 carries and 19 receiving yards on six catches and dropped a pair of passes.

After the firing of offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, interim Giants OC Freddie Kitchens wanted to make a point of emphasis going forward - get the ball to the best players on designed plays. "You need to get a sense, a feel for what they are comfortable with," Kitchens said. "Why would you call something -- and this is what our staff believes -- why would you call something if the player is not comfortable running it? It's your job to get them comfortable running it. ... If you can’t get them to that point, it's kind of diminishing returns."

"I think I realized it pretty early in the week as far as the game plan and what we were trying to do, getting the ball to certain guys, and plays were designed to get the ball to them," Daniel Jones said. "You're thinking about that throughout the game as plays are called and coming in. Obviously, there's a read and you've got to understand what the defense is doing. But I'd say I was pretty cognizant of what we were trying to do."

Related Players: Saquon Barkley, Kenny Golladay, Evan Engram, Kadarius Toney, Sterling Shepard

It sounds silly but saying that the best players need to get the ball can get lost on a coaching staff when an entire offense is struggling. Raanan's article listed Barkley, Golladay, Engram, Toney, and Shepard multiple times, a sign that the core is the focus going forward, especially when they are all healthy. The Giants offense is sketchy at best, but refocusing the offense with the entire coaching staff having input is a sign of life that needs to show on the field.

Giants WR Sterling Shepard (quad) will miss Week 12's game against the Philadelphia Eagles. WR Kadarius Toney (quad) and TE Kyle Rudolph (ankle) are doubtful, while RB Saquon Barkley (ankle) is questionable.

One step forward, two steps back for the Giants health-wise. WR Darius Slayton did clear concussion protocol, so his availability is no longer in question.

Saquon Barkley returned, but top-form Saquon Barkley still is missing in action.

In other words, the Giants played with their star running back Monday night for the first time in five games, but Barkley didn’t perform in a 30-10 loss to the Buccaneers like he has at his best in the past — or even like he did right before he injured his ankle.

Related players: Devontae Booker

Barkley said it was good to be back but as the story said he didn't get enough touches, six rushes for 25 yards and six catches for 31 yards. Barkley added, "I’m going to do whatever it takes to get my brain and my feet and my legs caught up together." The good news for Barkley owners is Booker carried just three times and had only one catch on MNF. There was talk Barkley wouldn't ever get the type of workload he got in the past but in his first game back he certainly got a big majority of the RB touches at least.

Saquon Barkley might finally be past his latest injury. He's reportedly expected to suit up on Monday night though, per Jordan Raanan of ESPN, when the Giants visit Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to close out the Week 11 slate of games.

The 24-year-old suffered a severe ankle sprain in Week 5 after taking only two handoffs against the Dallas Cowboys, on a play that saw him roll his ankle on the leg of cornerback Jourdan Lewis. He was immediately helped off of the field before seeing his ankle balloon massively with swelling and being ruled out shortly thereafter, having not taken the field for the Giants since, the story said. The Giants are hoping Barkley is finally healthy for the final stretch of the 2021 season.

Sterling Shepard (quad) returned to practice on Friday so there was a chance he'd return but was ruled out for Monday's matchup against Tampa Bay. Saquon Barkley (ankle) practiced all week and looks likely to return while Devontae Booker (hip) was added to the report today. Both are ruled as questionable and create two situations to monitor up to game time. The Buccaneers' defense boasts a tough front seven but their secondary is banged up.

This boosts the opportunity for Kenny Golladay and Kadarius Toney with Shepard out, while the running back situation would figure to be closer to an even split if both backs become active. Saquon hasn't played since Week 4

Giants RBs Saquon Barkley (ankle) and Devontae Booker (hip) were limited Friday, while WR Sterling Shepard (quad) made an appearance but was listed as 'Did Not Participate.'

It appears the running backs are trending towards playing, while Shepard is at least another week away.

Saquon Barkley looks good. Trending well toward Bucs return.

Related players: Devontae Booker

It's a potentially tough matchup for Barkley in his return and perhaps facing an angry Bucs team following an unexpected loss to Washington. Ironically, the tweet went on to say RBs Booker, and Elijah Penny weren't at practice due to a “personal matter” for both. Booker is reportedly dealing with a hip injury, too.

Giants RB Saquon Barkley (ankle) and WR Sterling Shepard (quad) will miss Week 9 against the Las Vegas Raiders. RB Gary Brightwell (COVID) and WRs Kenny Golladay (knee) and John Ross (quad) are questionable for Week 9.

Just gross all around. The Giants offense is a mess and the hope is injuries stop being an issue.

Giants RB Saquon Barkley (ankle/COVID) will not play Week 9 against the Las Vegas Raiders. “A guy who’s been out for several weeks like that, yeah we’d like to see him on the field,” Joe Judge said before practice.

Related Player: Devontae Booker

Barkley could play after the team's bye Week 10. Booker is the unquestioned RB1 for the Giants with Gary Brightwell still on the reserve/COVID-19 list.