Giants’ Devontae Booker barely plays in Saquon Barkley’s return
TAMPA, Fla. — What happened to the sharing plan at running back for the Giants?
It was not meant that the return of Saquon Barkley would mean that Devontae Bucher had to be removed from the offensive plan. However, it happened. Barkley was not injured after missing four games because of a sprained foot. In fact, he only managed three rush attempts and gained only 10 yards in the first quarter. Barkley also caught three passes of 16 yards. Barkley finished the game with twelve touches, including six runs and six receptions.
Booker did well in his previous games. In the win over Raiders, Booker ran for a career high 99 yards. While he had a hip problem that kept him out of practice that day, Booker was still available for play on Monday. That he did not get on the field in the first quarter of the 30-10 loss to the Bucs raises the question of whether he was healthy — and if he was not, why was he active? Barkley wasn’t doing much. Booker may have given Barkley some spark.

Booker was the last to make an appearance in the third quarter. This came after Barkley had completed his longest running distance of 12-yards. Booker finished the game with three rush attempts and one reception.
Kadarius Toney, rookie WR (7-40), left the game with a quad contusion.
Andrew Thomas’ touchdown reception in the second quarter was his first Giants offensive lineman catch since 1960.
“In practice it’s a lot easier than that,’’ Thomas said of his catch. A two-point conversion was a big reception in Dallas for Thomas. Thomas was activated out of injured reserve, and he started at left tackle. Thomas missed his previous three games due to ankle and foot problems.
Kyle Rudolph (TE) caught a 28 yard pass in the 3rd quarter, but he was injured afterward and didn’t return.
Tom Brady threw 46 pass and there were no sacks for the Giants.
“He definitely sat back there longer than we hoped,’’ said DL Leonard Williams.
Brady had 130 passing yards before he could reach the 3,000 mark for the season. It came in well before halftime. It was the 19th time Brady achieved this yardage total, allowing him to pass Brett Favre on the NFL’s all-time list. Favre had at least 3000 passing yards in 18 of his seasons.
Brady made an 11-yard touchdown run in the second quarter on a scramble. He actually high-stepped off a tackle.
“It’s been forever, probably never,’’ Brady, 44, said of the run. “That’s not what I do.’’
Toney on the sideline was not allowed to get a first-down reception after the Buccaneers defeated Toney in a replay contest. … The Bucs racked up 10 first downs in the first quarter. … DL Raymond Johnson had the only sack of the game for the Giants; it came against backup QB Blaine Gabbert.