Giants running back Cam Skattebo after the October 4 win over Arizona
Giants running back Cam Skattebo after the October 4 win over Arizona
Cam Skattebo has carried the ball 50 times over the Giants’ last three games and gained 154 yards. Asking for more carries isn’t the obvious solution to that production.
Now add a shoulder injury that limited him in both practices Wednesday and Thursday. The Giants need a plan that preserves his usefulness without treating every difficult yard as a job only he can do.
This isn’t an argument to bench him. It’s an argument to stop assuming a bigger workload will fix a running game that hasn’t been efficient. I’d keep him involved against Washington, if he’s medically cleared, while giving the other backs a genuine share of the work.
There was one helpful development Thursday: Najee Harris returned to full practice after missing Wednesday for a personal reason. Skattebo remained limited. Those are practice designations, not final game statuses, and the coaches still need Friday’s information before committing to a workload.
Giants running back Cam Skattebo carrying the ball against Arizona on October 4
New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo (44) runs with the ball, Sunday, October 4, 2026, in East Rutherford. Credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
The Giants need better results from the carries they already have
Skattebo has 235 rushing yards on 68 attempts through four games, averaging 3.5 yards per carry. He gained 81 yards on 18 carries in the opener. Since then, his game averages have been 3.0, 3.0 and 3.2. His NFL game log also shows no run longer than 13 yards this season.
That doesn’t tell us how much blame belongs to the blocking, play selection or running back. It does tell us the offense hasn’t made his volume particularly productive. More of the same would be a poor adjustment, especially with a shoulder issue to monitor.
I’d use the early possessions to evaluate which calls are actually producing space and which backs are benefiting. Giving Harris a series and keeping Tyrone Tracy involved could help the coaches make that comparison without waiting until Skattebo has already taken most of the contact.
A different way to keep Skattebo involved
Skattebo’s passing-game contribution also deserves attention. He has eight catches for 67 yards, including a 30-yard reception against Tennessee. A limited number of well-chosen receiving opportunities can keep him involved without automatically assigning another full series of carries.
Catching passes still involves contact, so this isn’t a way around the medical evaluation. Once he’s cleared, though, a catch in space can be a better use of Skattebo than another handoff into traffic. Harris and Tracy can take some of those carries.
Keeping the lead back doesn’t require overloading him
The case for leaving his role mostly unchanged is straightforward: the coaches may believe his preparation, ball carrying and reliability make him their best option, and the shoulder issue may prove minor. A healthy Skattebo can still be the lead back without dominating every possession.
There’s also no evidence here that Harris or Tracy will automatically produce better rushing numbers against Washington. Their availability gives the Giants options, not a guaranteed improvement. The line and the running backs need to be evaluated together.
I’d rather see an effective 12-to-15-carry game with useful receiving work than insist on reaching 20 attempts while the same problems persist. That proposed range has to yield to the medical evaluation and the actual game, but the principle is simple: judge Skattebo’s contribution by what the offense gets from it, not how many hits he absorbs.