The New York Giants are conducting training camp for the first time without star running back Saquon Barkley since 2017.

The team did not re-sign Barkley this past offseason, allowing him to head down to Philadelphia via free agency in a move that was met with mixed reviews by fans as well as individuals within the organization.

The Giants are now employing a strategy of running back-by-committee. They are bringing back Eric Gray, drafted Tyron Tracy Jr., and added several other free agents, most notably Devin Singletary.

Singletary spent last season with the Houston Texans after four seasons in Buffalo. He helped the Texans make the playoffs with some clutch plays but was always a reliable pair of hands with the Bills, where he played under offensive coordinator Brian Daboll.

“There’s a lot of young players,” said Daboll, now the Giants’ head coach. “Obviously, Motor (Singletary) knows the system. He’s been with me for a while. And there’s a lot of competition in terms of who that next guy is going to be or the next guy or what role they can carve out for themselves. I know they’re hungry. They work really hard at trying to pick up everything and excited to see these young guys battle it out.”

The real focus will be on how Singletary, wearing Barkley’s old jersey number (26), helps the organization put Barkley in the rearview mirror for good. Singletary is not concerned.

“There is no pressure, man,” Singletary told NJ Advance Media this week. “It’s football. I’ve been doing this my whole life… It’s been working for me so far, so I’m going to keep doing that.

Devin Singletary was a FA NY Giants signing in the off-season to be the feature back.
But I expect there will be plenty of carries for the 2nd string this season.
5th round pick Tyrone Tracy Jr. has shown well so far in practice. Thoughts on Tracy beating out Eric Gray for… pic.twitter.com/w3nyzAbVfR

— Barry Schustermann (@BarrySchust) August 3, 2024

“I’m just going to be myself, man. All this work I put in, I’m just going to enjoy the process. That’s where I’m at with it.”

Being reunited with Daboll will play a huge part in Singletary jumpstarting the new backfield. The two work well together.

“It’s like being back with family,” Singletary said of Daboll. “As far as the offense, it’s just fresh in my memory. It’s all love and I’m enjoying it. I’m glad I’m back here… In Buffalo, you saw it with (Daboll’s) aura and his swag, how he went about his business, you knew he would be a head coach one day.”

Now it’s time to see what this pair can do together for the second time.