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Call him “Cam Skattebooooo” because the Giants turned him into a ghost.
Skattebo knew ahead of Sunday’s game that he was not going to start and that his playing time would be diminished as a result of four fumbles in the first five games, but he wasn’t expecting to be limited to six offensive snaps (all in the first half) and no touches in the 34-27 loss to the Saints.
“I got punished for what I did, and I understand,” he said of his fumble. “I’ve got to be ready when coach calls my name. And that wasn’t today.”
Skattebo fumbled with the Giants in field-goal range in overtime at the end of last week’s tie against the Commanders.
“I didn’t expect to have zero [touches], but I was expecting to not play as much, just like I did,” Skattebo said. “The message is, ‘Keep your head down and keep going.’ They understand the type of player I am, and I just have to continue to do my job to the best of my ability.”
The Giants buried Tyrone Tracy Jr. on the depth chart after his mistakes, including fumbles, in the preseason and Week 1.
And he fought his way back to score two touchdowns, one a 17-yard catch in the first quarter, against the Saints.
“I’ve made mistakes, and I have to own up to them,” Skattebo said. “If that’s what they want to do — keep me on the sideline because of that — I totally understand.
“When you make mistakes like that, consequences are to be made.”
Head coach John Harbaugh said “we did not bench” Skattebo.
But there’s no denying he went from averaging 18.2 touches per game to getting shut out.
“That was not by design,” Harbaugh said. “It’s just when he was in the game, we didn’t call any runs.”
When Harbaugh told Skattebo about his reduced workload, Skattebo said he replied, “I understand where you are coming from.”
Tracy, starter Najee Harris and Devin Singletary combined for 14 carries for 34 yards in Skattebo’s absence.
“Did I know it was going to go from 50 snaps to [six] snaps? No,” Skattebo said. “If that’s what it is, that’s what it is. I have to get back to practice, work my butt off, and hopefully it comes back around.”