Giants’ Saquon Barkley, Bobby Okereke sharpen each other during practices

In the third and final preseason game for both teams, the Jets defeated the Giants, 32-24, on Saturday night at MetLife Stadium.

The third preseason game is generally reserved for backup players and those trying to make the roster.

In the cases of Bobby Okereke and Saquon Barkley, obviously that isn’t the question.

And Okereke believes he’s gotten some of the best work he can get on the Giants’ practice field.

We’re talking about practice?

Yes, we’re talking about practice.

And those practice reps are particularly valuable to Okereke when he’s matched up with Barkley.

“Yes, he’s a very tough cover,” said former Colt Okereke, who signed with the Giants in free agency.

Okereke said Barkley provided his most helpful reps during training camp.

“Yeah, it’s honestly great practice for me because I don’t think there’s — I mean, I think [49ers running back] Christian McCaffrey is a great route-runner, but I think Saquon might be the best,” Okereke said.

What sets Barkley apart?

“He’s got speed. He’s got shiftiness,” Okereke said. “His wiggle is really good. He’s just a dominant player.”

The Giants, of course, expect Okereke to be dominant in Wink Martindale’s defense, and he expects that of himself.

“Yeah, I mean, iron sharpens iron,” he said, “so I try to give him the best that I can and I always know I’m going to get a great look from him.”

The competitive part of Saturday night’s preseason game between the Giants and the Jets did not feature the Giants’ starters.

Which means the work Barkley and Okereke got against each other on the practice field recently was some of their best work in all of training camp.

With that, Okereke agreed.

And it didn’t come as a surprise to Okereke, who recalled playing against Barkley in his days with the Colts.

“Thinking back to last year when we played him, it was, ‘Get on Saquon, don’t give Saquon any space,’ just because of how dynamic and…