Cam Skattebo trade rumors may be premature, but the New York Giants' handling of their running backs on Sunday made one thing clear: his role can change fast. After last Sunday's costly fumble against the Washington Commanders, Skattebo did not receive a carry in the Giants' 34-27 loss to the New Orleans Saints.
The move was striking because Skattebo entered the game with 81 carries, yet he was effectively removed from the run game after the mistake that left him with four fumbles on the season and one lost possession. He said he understood the message. "I got punished for what I did," Skattebo said, adding, "I've made mistakes, and I got to own up to them."
Why Skattebo was sidelined
Skattebo said he was told veteran Najee Harris would start on Sunday, and he accepted that the decision was tied to accountability. "And if that is what they want to do, is keep me on the sidelines because of that, I totally understand," he said. "I can't make mistakes at this level of this game, and when you make mistakes like that, consequences (happen)."
He also said the shift was more drastic than he expected. "Did I know it was going to go from 50 snaps to five snaps? No. But if that's what it is, that's what it is," Skattebo said. That is the kind of reaction that shows how quickly a back can move from a featured role to the edge of the rotation.
The Giants' run game still did not deliver
What makes the decision harder to defend or praise in equal measure is that the Giants' rushing attack struggled anyway. Even against a Saints run defense ranked near the bottom of the league in multiple categories, the Giants could not establish consistent production on the ground.
John Harbaugh said the staff had been searching for a spark. "All of (our running backs) were taking equal reps in the first half, and we were trying to see who could make something happen, who could kind of get a hot hand and earn it. Nobody's really taking the bull by the horns," he said. He also noted, "When he was in there, we didn't call any runs," before adding, "Second half, we come out, and now we're down by a bunch," which limited the shape of the game plan.
For Skattebo, the larger issue is not just one game. It is whether the Giants see him as a back they can trust after the mistake against Washington, or whether the rotation will keep moving around him. The answer may come quickly if the ground game continues to struggle and the coaching staff keeps looking for a runner who can seize the job.
