New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo didn’t touch the ball once during Sunday’s 34-27 loss to the New Orleans Saints, a week after his costly overtime fumble against the Washington Commanders. Giants head coach John Harbaugh insisted after the game that the lack of touches wasn’t by design, but Skattebo seems to see things differently.
Skattebo admitted that he was “punished” for the fumble, and said that he understands why the Giants made the decision to keep him on the sidelines.
Skattebo Held Without a Touch
Skattebo entered Sunday as the Giants’ lead back, with 81 carries for 294 yards and a touchdown through five games. But he also had four fumbles this year, including a crucial turnover in overtime of New York’s Week 5 tie with Washington.
Ahead of Sunday’s game against the Saints, reports suggested that the Giants planned to give Najee Harris a bigger role in the game, and that seems like an understatement as Skattebo ended up playing just six snaps without a single carry or catch.
Harbaugh, however, claimed this was not part of the plan.
“It was not by design,” Harbaugh told reporters, via Pro Football Talk. “I mean, all those guys were taking equal reps in the first half. We were trying to see who could make something happen, who could kinda get a hot hand and earn it. Nobody’s really taking the bull by the horns. . . . It wasn’t by design for him not to carry the ball. It was just, when he was in there, we didn’t call any runs.”
Needless to say, nobody else grabbed the bull by the horns, either. Tyrone Tracy, Devin Singletary, and Harris combined for just 34 yards on 14 carries, and quarterback J.J. McCarthy led the team in rushing with 26 yards on two attempts after replacing Jameis Winston in the fourth quarter.
‘I Understand It’
Skattebo admitted that he “didn’t expect to have zero” touches. Unlike his head coach, however, he was willing to admit the real reason why he didn’t touch the ball.
“I got punished for what I did and I understand it,” Skattebo said, via Charlotte Carroll of The Athletic. “I gotta be ready when coach calls my name and that wasn’t today. … The message was keep your head down and keep going. They understand the type of player I am and I just gotta continue to do my job and do it to the best of my abilities.”
Skattebo confirmed that the decision was tied to the game-changing fumble in last week’s game, and he made it clear that he isn’t holding a grudge.
“It’s hard, but I’ve made mistakes and I got to own up to them,” Skattebo said. “If that is what they want to do – keep me on the sidelines because of that – I totally understand. I can’t make mistakes at this level of this game and when you make mistakes like that, consequences will be had.”
The Giants, now 3-2-1, visit the Houston Texans in Week 7. We’ll have to see whether or not Skattebo returns to his more usual role.
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