New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo saw his role shrink to almost nothing Sunday as the team fell 34-27 to the New Orleans Saints, with the second-year back registering zero carries and zero targets.
The performance came one week after Skattebo lost a fumble in overtime during a 27-27 tie with the Washington Commanders. Giants coach John Harbaugh later described the limited usage as part of an effort to evaluate several backs rather than a formal benching, though the results left the run game stagnant.
Through five games this season, Skattebo had carried 81 times for 294 yards at a 3.6-yard average with one touchdown. He also caught 10 passes for 79 yards. Those numbers represented a step back from his 2025 rookie campaign, when he rushed for 410 yards and five scores in eight games while adding 24 receptions for 207 yards and two more touchdowns.
Tiki Barber, the former Giants running back and current radio analyst, offered a pointed assessment during WFAN’s postgame coverage.
“There have been a lot of negative plays for him. And it’s misreading the run game, or being too fast in the run game…so many other things that matter to be on the field for 3rd Down…knowing protection responsibility,” Barber said.
Barber continued that the issues extended beyond the visible fumble.
“Those little things that are considered ‘busts’ aren’t as obvious to the lay fan, but I think there’s been a lot of those for Cam Skattebo for this season…he presented it as the fumble…I think it was more than that. In fact, I know it was more than that.”
Skattebo addressed reporters afterward and accepted responsibility for the reduced role.
“I got punished for what I did. I understand it, so I gotta be ready when coach calls my name, and that wasn’t today,” he said.
Without Skattebo involved, the Giants’ other running backs struggled to move the ball consistently. Tyrone Tracy, Najee Harris and Devin Singletary combined for 14 carries and 34 yards, with Tracy accounting for 18 yards and a touchdown on six attempts. Harris managed just two yards on four carries, while Singletary added 14 yards on four carries.
Harbaugh emphasized that no single back had yet established himself as the clear lead option.
“One of those guys needs to step up. Somebody needs to step up and be the back. None of those guys have done that yet. When one of those guys steps up to be the back, then they’ll be the back,” the coach said.
Skattebo entered the league as a fourth-round selection in the 2025 draft out of Arizona State after a productive college career that included more than 4,300 rushing yards and 43 touchdowns. In 13 NFL games prior to Sunday, he had scored eight total touchdowns, mixing power running with receiving contributions.
His 2026 efficiency has drawn attention, particularly the four fumbles recorded over the first five weeks. Only one of those was lost, but the volume has coincided with the team’s search for more consistent production from the position.
The Giants entered the game at 3-1-1 and left at 3-2-1 after the Saints snapped a three-game skid. New Orleans finished with 175 rushing yards as a team, underscoring the gap between the two ground attacks on a day when New York’s backs failed to generate consistent yards.
Tracy also caught two passes for 27 yards, including a 17-yard touchdown reception early in the contest. Even so, the overall output from the position remained modest against a Saints defense that had allowed substantial rushing yardage in prior weeks.
Harbaugh noted that game script shifted after the Giants fell behind, leading to more no-huddle situations that limited traditional run calls. Skattebo appeared on just six snaps, marking the first time in his career he was active but recorded no touches.
The outcome leaves the Giants sorting through a crowded backfield as they prepare for their next game. With no clear front-runner yet among the group, the team continues looking for sustained production and fewer mistakes from the position.
