Giants Coach Harbaugh Denies Benching Skattebo Amid Zero Touches

New York Giants coach John Harbaugh has refuted claims that he benched running back Cam Skattebo, despite the player receiving zero carries and only six offensive snaps in the team's loss to the New Orleans Saints.

Skattebo's reduced role comes a week after he lost a fumble in overtime during the Giants' tie against Washington. Prior to Sunday's game, the second-year running back had fumbled four times on 81 carries. "I didn't expect to have zero, but I was expecting to not play as much, just like I did," Skattebo said. "It is what it is. I got punished for what I did, and I understand. I've got to be ready when coach calls my name, and that wasn't today."

Harbaugh, however, bristled when questioned about Skattebo's lack of involvement. "We didn't bench Cam Skattebo," he stated. "It wasn't by design for him not to carry the ball. Just when he was in there, we didn't call any runs. You're not thinking about which back is in the game and how many runs they´re getting. It's we were going to give them all an equal shot, give them a chance, see who got a hot hand maybe, see who could get going with it. We weren´t planning on being down by 24, that´s for sure."

Skattebo acknowledged that he anticipated a reduced role following his recent fumble. "I just knew that Najee (Harris) was going to be the starter and I wasn't going to play as much as I have been," he said. "Did I know I was going to go from 50 snaps to five snaps? No. But if that's what it is, that's what it is. I've got to just get back to practice, work my butt off and hopefully it comes back around."

On Sunday, the combined rushing efforts of Harris, Tyrone Tracy, and Devin Singletary yielded only 34 yards on 14 carries, averaging 2.43 yards per attempt. "I think we just kind of moved away from it," Skattebo explained. "Early, it just wasn't hitting right and then as the game went on, we were down. We were behind, and the run game stops when the game's behind. It's hard to continue to run the ball when you´re down 24 points or whatever it was."

Skattebo, a fourth-round pick in the 2025 draft, is uncertain if this limited participation is a one-game consequence or a continuing situation. "I'm expecting the same thing until I'm told different," he stated. "I can't put the blame on anybody else but myself. I did it to myself. There are consequences leaving me on the sidelines and keeping me there, and I understand why. I'm going to continue to go out there and give it everything I have for the New York Giants and continue to work hard."

Harbaugh characterized the situation as an effort to find a consistent lead back among the team's running backs. "Somebody needs to step up and be the back, and none of those guys have done that yet," Harbaugh said. "And when one of those guys steps up to be the back, then they'll be the back. That's your answer. They're all hungry. They want to step up. One of those guys wants to step up. Somebody's going to step up and take that job. We're going to see who it is."

When pressed further about Skattebo's fumble against the Commanders, Harbaugh grew visibly frustrated. "I think it´s been pretty clear the whole story," he responded. "I don´t even know what else to say. That's the best answer you could ever get (to) that in a thousand years. There's not a coach in the world that would give you a better answer than that. You're not thrilled with that answer, I got nothing else for you."