Tyrone Tracy
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Tyrone Tracy is the Giants' RB1 again in the wake of Cam Skattebo's season-ending ankle injury.
The New York Giants lost Cam Skattebo for at least the rest of this season Sunday. But they still have a capable running back in Tyrone Tracy, at least according to Tracy himself.
Tracy spoke about being the team’s starting running back after Skattebo’s season-ending ankle dislocation and about how he’s ready to step up amid Skattebo’s absence.
Tracy, who will turn 26 on Nov. 23, rushed for 839 yards and five touchdowns as the team’s featured back in 2024. But after Skattebo took the reins as the No. 1 back, Tracy took a backseat, which is why he has only put up 159 yards and one score — while averaging only 3.5 yards per carry — this year.
The Giants (2-6) have dropped two straight and three of four and will host the San Francisco 49ers.
Tyrone Tracy Is Ready To Seize His Opportunity
Tracy is back as the starting tailback, and he’s ready to seize his opportunity, the same way he did when he took over for Devin Singletary during the team’s Week 5 game in Seattle last season.
“However the opportunity presents itself, you have to take advantage of it,” Tracy said. “Just like last year when Motor got injured, it’s kind of the same thing. I’m going to go out to do my job to the best of my ability whether I get the ball three times or whether I get the ball 50 times.”
Tracy was a converted wide receiver, which means he can be more effective in the passing game. But he also is excited to get extra reps running the ball, since Tracy has not rushed more than 10 times in any game this season — a function of starting alongside veteran, air-it-out-style QB Russell Wilson.
But with rookie QB Jaxson Dart, the Giants offense has become more balanced, which should lead to more rushing attempts for Tracy — since he averaged more than 11 per game in his rookie season.
Whichever way the Giants decide to deploy Tracy against the tough Niners defense is OK with the second-year back.
“I’m just going to go out there and do what I can to put my team in the best situation possible,” Tracy said. “Whether it’s running, catching the ball out of the backfield or blocking, or even just being a cheerleader on the sidelines for the defense, whatever I’m going to do to put my team in a great situation, I’m going to do that.”
Tyrone Tracy Isn’t Trying To Replace Cam Skattebo
The NFL is laden with stories of players who lost their starting roles then performed after getting a second chance.
So Tracy is the most recent example of that, since he lost his job to Skattebo after he dislocated his shoulder in the Giants’ loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 3. But when he was healthy, Tracy was the backup, since Skattebo’s energy and tough running made him tough to tackle while also endearing him with Giants fans.
But he’s not going to worry about replacing Skattebo.
“I’m not gonna try to be nobody else but Tyrone Tracy Jr.,” Tracy said. “That’s all I can be on the football field, and I think God has blessed me enough to go out there and just be myself.”