New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh has voiced his opinion on running back Cam Skattebo's recent backflip, particularly given the athlete's history of a surgically repaired leg.
"My reaction was – I haven't talked to him yet; I'm going to talk to him, I'm sure – my reaction was this: Dude, at least stick it," Harbaugh said on the Bleav in Giants podcast. "I mean, land the thing if you're going to do it, you know? That was my first reaction."
Skattebo, 24, attempted the backflip at Fanatics Fest in midtown Manhattan. His rookie season was cut short in Week 8 due to a severe leg injury, which included an open tibia fracture, a ruptured deltoid ligament, and a right ankle dislocation. He has since been rehabilitating the injured leg.
Skattebo himself acknowledged the incident, stating his intention to avoid self-injury during the preseason. "I will not hurt myself before the season," he told Sirius XM's 'The Fantasy Footballers.' He explained that the floor at the event was more bouncy than anticipated, causing him to be higher in the air than usual and leading to an awkward landing. "So, nothing came out from that. I'm perfectly fine. Nothing happened. We're good."
Despite the rough landing, Skattebo managed to get back on his feet and acknowledge the crowd. Teammate Jaxson Dart commented on Skattebo's athleticism, noting, "He over-rotated. He looks real good, man. He looks real good."
Skattebo has faced varied reactions to his persona, with some labeling him a "wild man" and others calling him "braindead." He has embraced the "wild maniac" moniker but expressed less enthusiasm for the "braindead" label, stating, "I think I less enjoy the brain-dead kind of guy. But it is what it is. I mean, the New York people love it, so I'm just gonna keep being me. And if they wanna say I'm brain-dead and I don't have no brain, then who cares? F*** it, you know?"
Last season, Skattebo recorded 410 rushing yards and five touchdowns, along with 207 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 24 receptions. He has been identified as a potential sleeper candidate in fantasy football drafts, contingent on his recovery from surgery.