How Eagles' Saquon Barkley became the most dangerous player in the NFL ahead of Super Bowl LIX

Saquon Barkley’s transformation from expendable in New York to invaluable during Philadelphia’s run to Sunday’s Super Bowl did not happen over the course of just one offseason.

Saquon Barkley’s transformation from expendable in New York to invaluable during Philadelphia’s run to Sunday’s Super Bowl did not happen over the course of just one offseason. 

It started four and a half years earlier.

The No. 2 overall draft pick out of Penn State in 2018, Barkley entered 2020 having rushed for at least 1,000 yards in each of his first two NFL seasons. But only 19 attempts into this third, he injured the meniscus and tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, his 2020 season over after two games. 

Physically, Barkley was healthy enough to start 13 games for the Giants the very next season. Yet players who have suffered ACL injuries often describe the rehab as a multi-year process because mental confidence in the injury often takes far longer to return than physical strength.

https://www.nbcnews.com/sports/nfl/saquon-barkley-eagles-super-bowl-rcna189724

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