The New York Giants’ confusing decision to give Cam Skattebo zero carries in Sunday’s 34-27 loss to the New Orleans Saints became even more puzzling after head coach John Harbaugh addressed the situation.
Harbaugh insisted Skattebo was not benched and that the lack of carries was not intentional, but his explanation did little to clear up why the Giants’ leading rusher barely saw the field.
Harbaugh insists Skattebo was not benched
Skattebo played only six offensive snaps, all of them in the first half, and finished without a rushing attempt or reception. That came one week after he lost a costly fumble in overtime against Washington, ending a potential Giants winning drive in what ultimately became a 27-27 tie.
The timing naturally created questions about whether Harbaugh was sending a message to the second-year running back.
Harbaugh strongly denied that was the case.
“We didn’t bench Cam Skattebo,” Harbaugh said after the game. He explained that the Giants entered the game planning to give their running backs relatively equal opportunities while trying to determine who could establish a rhythm.
According to Harbaugh, the Giants rotated Skattebo, Najee Harris, Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Devin Singletary while searching for someone to emerge as their primary option.
“Nobody has really taken the bull by the horns,” Harbaugh said.
The explanation is difficult to reconcile with Skattebo’s own comments, however. The running back acknowledged that he knew his role would be reduced and said he felt he was being punished for his previous week’s fumble.
The Giants still have major questions at running back
Harbaugh became particularly frustrated when reporters continued pressing him about whether the fumble influenced Skattebo’s lack of opportunities.
“I don’t know what else to say,” Harbaugh said. “That’s the best answer you could ever get on that in a thousand years.” He added that if reporters were not satisfied with his explanation, he had nothing else to offer. New York Giants
That response leaves the Giants with an obvious question heading into Week 7: Who exactly is going to become “the guy” in the backfield?
Harbaugh made it clear that he wants one of the four running backs to seize the job rather than continue with an even rotation. The
Against New Orleans, that never happened. Tracy recorded six carries for 18 yards, while Harris and Singletary each received four attempts. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy ultimately led New York in rushing with 26 yards on two carries.
The situation is particularly notable because Skattebo entered Week 6 as the Giants’ leading rusher, making his sudden disappearance from the offense difficult to ignore.
Whether Sunday’s decision was technically a benching or simply the result of play-calling, the outcome was essentially the same: Skattebo went from being a major part of the Giants’ offense to barely seeing the field. His role heading into Week 7 against Houston could become one of the biggest storylines surrounding New York.
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