Reports emerged on Sunday morning that the New York Giants would remove running back Cam Skattebo from the starting role for the team’s game against the New Orleans Saints after the second-year ball-carrier fumbled four times this season.
Najee Harris is set to start for the Giants in New Orleans.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) October 18, 2026
As was reported, Najee Harris went on to start at running back for the Giants and finished with four carries for two yards in a 34-27 Giants loss.
Skattebo, on the other hand, played just six snaps and didn’t get a single carry.
After the game, Skattebo admitted that he was “punished” by the coaching staff for his fumbling issues.
Cam Skattebo: “I got punished for what I did (from last week). I understand it so I gotta be ready when coach calls my name and that wasn’t today.”
“It’s hard, but I’ve made mistakes, and I got to own up to them.” #giants https://t.co/G1brLeqJFJ
— Charlotte Carroll (@charlottecrrll) October 18, 2026
“I got punished for what I did,” Skattebo told the media. “I understand it, so I gotta be ready when Coach calls my name, and that wasn’t today.”
“I didn’t expect to have zero (carries),” Skattebo added. “I was expecting to not play as much… It’s hard, but I’ve made mistakes, and I got to own up to them.”
But Giants head coach John Harbaugh claimed that the team “didn’t bench” Skattebo and that the zero carries were “not by design.”
A fired-up #Giants HC John Harbaugh says RB Cam Skattebo wasn’t benched and getting 0 carries wasn’t by design. He says no one has stepped up in the RB room, and he’s trying to figure out who “the guy” is.
When pressed on the topic: “I don’t know what else to say. That’s the best answer you can ever get on that in 1,000 years. There’s not a coach in the world that will give you a better answer than that. If you’re not thrilled with that answer, I got nothing else for you, honestly.”
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 18, 2026
“It wasn’t by design for him not to carry the ball,” Harbaugh said. “It’s just, when he was in there, we didn’t call any runs.”
After Harbaugh tried to elaborate on the reasoning and how the Giants were looking for someone among the running backs to step up as “the guy,” he got snippy with the media.
“I think it’s been pretty clear, the whole story. I don’t even know what else to say,” Harbaugh explained. “That’s the best answer you can ever get on that in a thousand years. There’s not a coach in the world that will give you a better answer than that. If you’re not thrilled with that answer, I got nothing else for you. Honestly.”
Harbaugh can spin it however he wants to, but it’s clear that Skattebo is in the doghouse and was more or less benched. Skattebo had 81 carries over the Giants’ five games entering Sunday.
The Giants’ three other running backs — Harris, Tyrone Tracy Jr., and Devin Singletary —combined for 34 yards over 14 carries (2.4 yards) in the loss. So, Harbaugh and the Giants might have to accept the fumble risk from Skattebo in an effort to try to get the running game on track going forward.
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