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."