Week 6 served as a reality check for New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo, who didn’t see any action after some costly errors the week prior.
Skattebo barely played and never touched the ball in the New York Giants’ 34-27 home loss to the New Orleans Saints, one week after losing a fumble in overtime of a 27-27 tie at the Washington Commanders.
Tom Brady addressed the issue on FOX this week, and the seven-time Super Bowl champion’s standard was simple: “The guys who play are the ones that don’t give up the ball.”
Tom Brady Draws a Hard Line on Cam Skattebo’s Costly Fumble
Brady explained where that coaching standard comes from: “I always felt like the only way to protect the ball was for guys to be committed to protecting it. And if you prove to your team that you’re going to drop it on the ground, then there’s ramifications and accountability that need to take place.”
He left room for one exception before getting to the consequence: “Now, I understand if a defender makes a great play, but if every week that ball’s coming out, you got to sit on the bench and let the other guys take it.”
Fumbles weren’t much of a concern for Skattebo as a rookie, when he was credited with one on 101 attempts. He came into the Saints game with four on 81 attempts this season, though he hadn’t lost one until overtime at Northwest Stadium on Oct. 11.
However, that lost fumble came at a critical moment. Skattebo had led the Giants in rushing that day with 13 carries for 59 yards, and his giveaway ended an eight-play, 67-yard overtime drive. It put Washington in position to win before they let time expire without attempting a field goal.
Against New Orleans, the Giants rotated four backs. Najee Harris got the start, and Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Devin Singletary also carried the ball in the first quarter. Tracy finished with six carries for 18 yards and a rushing touchdown, while Singletary ran four times for 14 yards.
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After the game, Harbaugh walked through the RB plan: “All those guys were taking equal reps in the first half. We were trying to see who could make something happen, who could get a hot hand and earn it. Nobody has really taken the bull by the horns.”
He also saw the obvious objection coming. “You can say, well, I don’t like that. I don’t like you divvying up the snaps between four backs. And I can tell you, I don’t like it either. One of those guys needs to step up. Somebody needs to step up and be the back. And none of those guys have done that yet.”
Skattebo’s season line hasn’t moved since Week 5. He has 81 carries for 294 yards and one rushing touchdown. Pro Football Network’s NFL RB Impact Grade has him at 71.4 entering Week 7.
Meanwhile, Skattebo didn’t dress it up after the loss: “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.”
The Giants RB said he “didn’t expect to have zero” carries, but he wasn’t pointing fingers. “I’ve made mistakes, and I gotta own up to them… And if that is what they wanna do is 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, there are consequences to be made.”
The Giants are 3-2-1 and first in the NFC East. They visit the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium on Oct. 25 in Week 7, which is Skattebo’s next chance to get the ball back in his hands.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.