Barkley (ankle/COVID protocol) doesn't seem likely to be available for Sunday's game against the Raiders, Ralph Vacchiano of SportsNet New York reports. "I wouldn't eliminate it," coach Joe Judge said Thursday. "But it's not moving in a direction to give us a definite answer in a positive way."
Barkley wasn't ready to return for Week 8 action in Kansas City due to lingering swelling and soreness in his left ankle. Another hurdle was placed in his path this week when he tested positive for COVID-19. The Giants remain hopeful that Barkley merely had a false positive, as he'll be retested Thursday and Friday to attempt to appease league protocols to return to the active roster, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. But as Judge intimated, missing back-to-back practices could be the biggest reason Barkley remains sidelined for a fourth straight game this weekend. Assuming Barkley is inactive or still on the reserve/COVID-19 list, the Giants again will turn to Devontae Booker and Elijhaa Penny on Sunday.