New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo has acknowledged that his recent failed backflip attempt was a "dumb thing" to do, particularly so close to the team's training camp. The incident, which occurred at the Fanatics Fest event, led to discussions with General Manager Joe Schoen and Head Coach John Harbaugh.
Skattebo, who is returning from a severe right ankle dislocation and open tibia fracture that ended his rookie season prematurely after eight games, attempted a backflip during the event. While he landed without apparent injury, his stumble on the landing prompted concern from the Giants' brass. General Manager Joe Schoen, who was informed of the incident while on vacation, expressed his relief that Skattebo was unharmed but made it clear he would prefer such actions be avoided close to the start of training camp.
"The video shows a little bit about how good his rehab’s been, that he’s able to not land it and still be okay," Schoen said. "But he knows I’d rather him not do that, especially this close to camp."
Head Coach John Harbaugh also addressed the situation with Skattebo. "My coach talked to me, told me how he felt, and I learned from it," Skattebo stated after a recent training camp practice. "And will I go do that backflip again? Probably not. We live and we learn, and we move on."
Despite the cautionary talks, Skattebo, 24, appears to be progressing well in his recovery. He has been participating in drills and reported feeling "99.9 percent back to full health," with the remaining 0.1 percent contingent on participating in full-contact practices.
In his eight games last season, Skattebo rushed for 410 yards and five touchdowns, adding two receiving touchdowns. His promising rookie campaign was cut short by the ankle injury sustained two weeks after a standout three-touchdown performance against the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Giants aim to build a strong running game, with Skattebo and Tyrone Tracy expected to be the primary ball carriers. While Skattebo has focused on his recovery and on-field performance, he hinted that the backflip celebration might resurface during actual game time, stating, "When game time comes around, we'll see what game time comes around. But right now, we're focused on training camp, and we'll keep the backflips off the field for now."