Devin Singletary might be sporting Saquon Barkley‘s vacated No. 26 in New York, but he’s not concerned with living up to his predecessor.
As the Giants approach the 2024 season without Barkley on the roster for the first time in six years, Singletary’s plan to take over the backfield is to keep chugging along as he always has been.
“I’ve been in the league just like him,” Singletary said, via the New York Post’s Steve Serby. “He’s only been in the league a year before me. … I feel like I’m a playmaker like him, so … I’m just gonna be me. It’s been going well for me since I’ve been in the league, so that’s what I’m gonna keep doing.”
It’s little wonder Singletary is confident in ability to deliver for Big Blue. He’s coming off a career-high 898 rushing yards in 2023 for the Texans after amassing 200-plus carries for the first time in five NFL seasons. His offseason signing with New York makes him the undisputed leader in a running back room that otherwise consists of Eric Gray, Jashaun Corbin, Dante Miller and fifth-round rookie Tyrone Tracy Jr.
Singletary is also reuniting with head coach Brian Daboll, who served as his offensive coordinator for three years in Buffalo, and he’s set to play behind a line that was invested in well during free agency.
And while he’s not nearly as dangerous as Barkley in the passing game or as explosive overall, Singletary has proven himself capable when provided the opportunity, even averaging more yards per carry than his contemporary with 4.6 versus 4.3 over the course of their careers.
Given Barkley’s star power and his departure being for the rival Eagles, there’s bound to be comparisons between the two backfields at points during the season.
As far as Singletary is concerned, though, the looming storyline shouldn’t have any affect on New York’s overall goal.
“I don’t know, just ball out, win games, I think that’s the biggest thing,” Singletary said. “That’s our focus anyway — win games.
“We ain’t really worried about ‘The Shadow of Saquon’ or none of that. It’s just find ways to win games.”
In 2023, Barkley and the Giants often came up fruitless in that regard, falling back to just six wins after a surprise postseason trip the year prior.
Should New York stack enough victories for a playoff return in 2024 with Singletary, it will matter little who came before him.
