EAST RUTHERFORD - New York Giants coach John Harbaugh did not pull any punches when discussing what has been a dormant running attack for the better part of a month.
During a video call Monday, Harbaugh was asked about Najee Harris' venting about the difficulties in finding a rhythm with the way the Giants rotated four backs. He took the opportunity and expanded on his answer, fueling speculation that adding a lead running back from the trade market was not out of the question.
Then the next morning, the Giants released Harris following his comments, not to mention his four-carry, two-yard performance.
"Do understand it. Respect it. Also understand that that's earned," Harbaugh said. "I would love for us to be in that kind of a circumstance. A Derrick Henry circumstance or a Saquon Barkley circumstance or whatever it might be. That would be great, and we haven't. Our run game hasn't earned that yet, and none of those guys have. My advice would be to any player, and it's all the guys, we had the same conversation. I've had the same conversation with all the running backs, the receivers, it's no different than any position, but do the most you can with the opportunities you get. Make the most of those opportunities and you're sure to get more opportunities."
The message: Do something.
Who will lead the Giants' backfield with J.J. McCarthy at quarterback come Sunday afternoon in Houston against the 2-4 Texans? Here's a closer look at the players competing for carries and what it means moving forward.
OPTIONS ON THE ROSTER
Cam Skattebo
The OT Fumble Heard 'Round The NFL earned Skattebo a demotion on the depth chart, and as the game plan went in the first half last Sunday, he wound up getting zero touches. Afterward, Harbaugh insisted that Skattebo was not "benched," but there was some level of accountability the second-year back was forced to accept, and he did.
It's hard seeing the Giants keeping up this with Skattebo against Houston. Clearly, the entire operation has to perform better. Skattebo has been a punching bag of sorts, yet he's clearly an emotional sparkplug this team as currently constituted sorely misses.
Tyrone Tracy Jr.
Harbaugh's frustration with the backfield group was obvious, but after scoring twice against the Saints, maybe Tracy should be excluded from that ire. He's played relatively well in limited opportunities, and there was no venting from the third-year pro who lost some of his opportunities after back-to-back gaffes in the preseason with a missed blitz pickup and a fumble.
Tracy also had numerous crushing blocks last week, so if Harbaugh is looking for someone to step up, he's giving himself a chance at a resurgence. The Jaguars hit for a pair of touchdowns out of the backfield through the air against the aggressive Houston defensive front in London. That could be a spot where the Giants make things happen with Tracy.
Devin Singletary
Now 28, Singletary took a pay cut to stay with the Giants, improving his chances of emerging as a contributor from jump. What is interesting to see is how much Singletary has faded into the background after a strong Week 1 performance in the victory over the Cowboys. His style in a Greg Roman-designed power run game fits and Harbaugh has shown he is unafraid to go to different backs in a committee prior to Derrick Henry's arrival in Baltimore. That said, the fact that Singletary has been the odd man out on game day lowers the likelihood that he will get more than one or two opportunities.
OPTIONS ON THE TRADE MARKET
Jonathan Taylor, Colts
With GM Chris Ballard having been fired and Taylor signed through 2028, the Colts may just hold out for the highest bid - think a first-round pick - that may never come. But you'd think the Giants would love to bring the New Jersey native home, if the price was right, giving Harbaugh a lead back to join Skattebo and Tracy. Could the Colts be swayed by a 2028 second-round pick and a player, maybe Kayvon Thibodeaux?
Breece Hall, Jets
Why would the Jets trade the 25-year-old Hall after just signing him to a three-year extension this offseason? Well, maybe they won't. But it's worth making a call, especially with Braelon Allen playing well in Hall's absence due to a quad injury. The Giants would likely have to pay a MetLife Stadium co-tenant tax in any possible deal.
Keaton Mitchell, Chargers
Harbaugh knows Mitchell well from his days in Baltimore. He's a change of pace and while not a bell cow per se, Mitchell can be a home run hitter. The Chargers have Omarion Hampton and Kimani Vidal, both of whom out-snapped Mitchell in Sunday's loss to the Chiefs.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Will the real Giants running back please stand up? To tell Big Blue truth