Cam Skattebo received an unnecessary roughness penalty during a game against the Houston Texans, drawing criticism from former NFL quarterback Drew Brees.
The call came after Skattebo’s physical run, with officials penalizing him for lowering his helmet during contact. Brees later shared his reaction to the play on Instagram.
Former NFL players challenge officials’ call on Cam Skattebo
The incident occurred with 5:17 remaining in the first quarter. Skattebo took a handoff from quarterback J.J. McCarthy before meeting Stewart in the open field. During the collision, he lowered his helmet toward the Texans safety, prompting officials to call unnecessary roughness.
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Oct 25, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo (44) runs with the ball during overtime against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
The penalty cost the New York Giants 15 yards and erased a gain of approximately seven yards. Skattebo was attempting to pick up additional yardage when the collision occurred.
Brees shared a video of the play on his Instagram Story and questioned the officials’ decision. He wrote, “In between the tackle, are you kidding me?! Textbook tough physical run!”
Former NFL fullback Jacob Hester also questioned the penalty, pointing to the challenges running backs face while protecting the ball and fighting for extra yards. Former NFL linebacker Scott Shanle likewise criticized the call.
Giants head coach John Harbaugh disagreed with the officials on the field. The call also renewed discussion about how officials distinguish between a runner’s effort to gain extra yards and illegal helmet use.
Skattebo also expressed frustration after the game. He said, “The NFL loves to post me when I do stuff like that but then also wants to take stuff from me.”
He also made his stance clear, saying, “I’m going to run the ball like I want to run the ball.” Skattebo indicated he would continue playing that way, even if it resulted in additional penalties or fines.
The incident followed a previous helmet-related violation against the Tennessee Titans that resulted in a $7,073 fine. That punishment drew added attention to the collision with Stewart. However, the earlier fine and the Houston penalty were separate matters, and any additional discipline from the Texans game would need to be confirmed independently.
NFL rules prohibit players from using the crown of the helmet to initiate contact with an opponent, a restriction that also applies to ball carriers. While the rule factored into the officials’ decision, Brees and other former players questioned whether Skattebo’s actions warranted a penalty.
Reports before Week 7 indicated officials had called only four lowering-the-helmet penalties during the season. One involved an offensive player on a punt return. Those figures provided context for the discussion surrounding Skattebo’s penalty.
Despite the penalty, Skattebo finished with 17 carries for 124 rushing yards and a touchdown against Houston. The performance followed a limited outing against the New Orleans Saints the previous week, when he received no carries or targets and played just six snaps.
Skattebo scored on a 16-yard run in the fourth quarter and later broke off a 42-yard gain in overtime that helped set up the winning score. Devin Singletary then scored on a 30-yard touchdown run as New York defeated Houston 27–21.
The victory improved the Giants to 4–2–1, while the Texans fell to 2–5. Skattebo finished with 124 rushing yards and a touchdown as debate continued over the unnecessary roughness call and the NFL’s helmet-contact rule.
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