Saquon Barkley is expected to participate more in drills during this week's joint practice with the New England Patriots as he continues to impress with his physical progression from a torn ACL in his right knee.

However, Barkley will not be at Wednesday's joint practice as he attends to a personal matter, according to sources.

The New York Giants running back will rejoin the team Thursday, and the plan is to get him going potentially in live drills, perhaps with some slight limitations.

Barkley's time away from the team isn't expected to set him back, and there remains a possibility that he'll be ready to play in the Giants' Sept. 12 opener against the Denver Broncos.

"He keeps advancing in his rehab," Joe Judge said. "His foot is tapping every day, wanting to do more and more, and physically he keeps progressing and showing us he can do more and more."

New York Giants general manager Dave Gettleman isn't on the hot seat, per owner John Mara.

"We're all on the hot seat, with our fans in particular," Mara said. "We've given them too many losing seasons. It's time for us to start winning. But no, I wouldn't say [Gettleman is on the hot seat]. I wouldn't say that's an accurate statement."

The Giants have won 15 games in the three seasons since Gettleman took over as GM.

Saquon Barkley returned to practice with the New York Giants for the first time Monday since tearing the ACL in his right knee early last season, and he expressed optimism afterward that he could be ready for Week 1.

"I guess you can say, with my mindset, I'm definitely hopeful," Barkley said. "It's definitely better being able to practice now than later on in camp."

The Giants open the season on Sept. 12, giving the running back more than a month to further prepare.

"As [the medical staff] keeps greenlighting Saquon to do more and more, we're going to let him do more and more," Joe Judge said.