“I’m quite sure [Skattebo is] not trying to use his helmet as a weapon, as a battering ram,” Harbaugh told reporters, via ESPN‘s Jordan Raanan. “It’s not the way he’s thinking. He’s leading with his shoulder. That’s what he’s trying to do. . . .

“So, I didn’t have a problem with the technique personally at all, but we haven’t heard from the league. Maybe they’ll be able to enlighten us a little bit on it in terms of what they want us to teach, and that would be great.”

The use of the helmet during collisions can often be deemed a penalty by officials. Moving forward, Skattebo will need to be more cautious to avoid penalties that could hurt not only him but also the Giants in crucial moments of a game.

The rule against lowering the helmet

The NFL‘s “Use of the Helmet” rule is basically football’s way of saying, “keep your head up and play safe.” Under Rule 12, Article 10(a), it’s an automatic 15-yard penalty whenever a player lowers their head to initiate forcible contact using any part of their helmet against an opponent.

Beyond the penalty flag, severe or flagrant hits can lead to an immediate ejection, heavy league fines, or even a suspension. The whole point is to cut down on dangerous, head-first spear tackles, protecting defensive players and ball-carriers alike from traumatic brain injuries and neck spinal trauma.

Bottom line: if you drop your skull to deliver a blow, you’re costing your team yards and putting both yourself and your opponent at serious risk.

Key takeaways

• The NFL flagged Cam Skattebo for a hard collision during the Giants-Texans game.
• Head coach John Harbaugh defended Cam Skattebo, stating he led with his shoulder.
• Lowering the helmet carries an automatic 15-yard penalty under NFL Rule 12, Article 10(a).

Speaking with Dan Graziano, Skattebo revealed that he felt something in his hamstring after the run, but was grateful that the Giants have time to rest coming up next weekend. “Good thing we have a bye week,” the No.44 stated.

Insider Mike Garafolo reported on his X account that Skattebo is OK, and the upcoming break will give him valuable time to recover and get ready for what lies ahead. The Giants are in a good position and will need all their available resources to keep their momentum going.

A crucial run for the Giants

In the overtime period against Houston, Cam Skattebo provided the absolute spark the Giants needed to seal the deal. Facing a tough defense, the RB broke free for a career-long, electrifying 42-yard run that completely flipped the field and put New York deep in Houston territory.

While the explosive play set up the game-winning touchdown run by Devin Singletary rather than a field goal to walk it off 27-21, Skattebo’s monster run was the undeniable game-changer that delivered the win.

Skattebo establishes himself as the Giants’ RB1

Cam Skattebo absolute blew the doors off the Texans’ defense, putting up a career-high 124 rushing yards on 17 carries (averaging a wild 7.3 yards) along with a 16-yard touchdown run—and a backflip celebration to top it off. On top of forcing missed tackles all afternoon, his explosive 42-yard burst in overtime completely set up New York’s walk-off victory.

Coming out of the bye, Skattebo looks firmly entrenched as the feature back for the Giants moving forward—his power, vision, and ability to break big plays make him the clear-cut RB1 heading into their brutal divisional stretch.

Key takeaways

• Cam Skattebo revealed he felt hamstring discomfort during the Giants’ win against Houston.
• A 42-yard run in overtime by Cam Skattebo set up the game-winning touchdown.
• 124 rushing yards on 17 carries marked a career-high performance for Cam Skattebo.

There are several things about today’s NFL that players, coaches, and fans don’t really like. Even though everybody is in favor of protecting players’ health, it’s still worth noting how the league is actively taking away much of the contact and aggressive nature of the sport. If there’s one player known for his aggressiveness, it’s definitely Skattebo, who won’t think twice before rushing headfirst into a brick wall if that gives his Giants even the slightest chance of winning.

Even after being called for an eyebrow-raising penalty against Houston that went viral on social media, New York’s RB1 made it clear that he isn’t changing his play style anytime soon. If that means he will have to pay NFL fines week in and week out, fattening the league’s pockets while thinning his own, so be it.

“The NFL loves to post me when I do stuff like that but then also wants to take stuff from me,” Skattebo stated postgame, via CBS Sports. “I’m going to run the ball like I want to run the ball. If I’m going to continue to get flags for it or fined for it, guess I’m going to play for free.”

Skattebo didn’t lie

Skattebo is a big personality both on and off the field, which hasn’t gone unnoticed by the NFL. The league constantly promotes him and his incredible plays, which usually involve him overpowering another competitor. In fact, his allegedly illegal truck against Texans safety M.J. Stewart was still posted on social media and got hundreds of thousands of views.

He won’t change his ways, whether the NFL praises his work on social media or referees throw flags against him. Either way, Skattebo will be Skattebo.

Skattebo’s stats vs Texans

Coming off a week of uncertainty, with reports all but confirming that the Giants could trade for Jonathan Taylor or another running back to take over as the lead back in East Rutherford, Skattebo heard it all, didn’t say a word to stir up drama, and did his talking on the gridiron.

Against a suffocating defense like the Texans’, despite their less-than-stellar start to the 2026 NFL season, Skattebo had one of the best games of his career. Not only did he set a career high for longest run twice during the 27-21 win over Houston, but he also finished the game with 124 yards and a touchdown, breaking three tackles en route to the end zone.

Skattebo re-claims RB1 role

Moreover, his 17 carries, compared with Tyrone Tracy Jr.’s six and Devin Singletary’s five, confirm that he’s back as the lead ball carrier in John Harbaugh and Matt Nagy’s offense. Perhaps all he needed was the wake-up call that came with the possibility of being benched in Week 6 and having his future with the organization called into question throughout the week. Just as expected, Skattebo delivered when he needed to most.

NY Giants: first place in NFC East

The Giants improved to 4-2-1, remain atop the NFC East, and head into a strategically timed midseason bye week in far better spirits than they had entering Week 7. They have Skattebo’s monstrous outing, a strong performance from the running back room as a whole, and a cool, calm, and collected first start from J.J. McCarthy to thank for that.

So keep the fines and flags coming, because Skattebo isn’t going to stop running over people. And if drawing a penalty is the only way teams can stop him, then the rest of the NFL will be in for long, painful outings against Skattebo and the Giants.

Key takeaways

• Cam Skattebo criticized the NFL over his unnecessary roughness penalty following the New York Giants’ win.
• Cam Skattebo totaled 124 yards and a touchdown in the New York Giants’ 27-21 victory.
• The New York Giants improved to 4-2-1 to hold first place in the NFC East.

“Yeah, I mean he was always going to be a big part of our season. And he had a heck of a week of practice. All the backs did. I thought the whole team had a really good week. And just trying to focus on preparing to play our best football if we can in this next game against a very tough opponent in a tough environment. But we’re up for it, we’re ready for it and Skatt, no less than anybody else, he had a heck of a week of practice.”

Harbaugh’s reassuring words come on the heels of a tumultuous stretch for New York’s running game. Skattebo, who leads all NFL running backs with four fumbles this season, saw his usage plummet during the Giants’ 34-27 loss to New Orleans. However, with Najee Harris recently released and the coaching staff demanding someone “step up and take the job,” Skattebo’s strong week on the practice field could clear the path for an immediate bounce-back opportunity alongside Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Devin Singletary.

Who will be Giants RB1?

Cam Skattebo still has a chance to be the Giants RB1. With newly named starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy making his first official start for Big Blue in Houston, establishing an efficient ground attack is non-negotiable. It’s an open competition with Devin Singletary and Tyrone Tracy Jr.

A revitalized Skattebo offers the exact downhill, tackle-breaking presence needed to keep the Texans’ pass rush honest and open up play-action passing lanes.

• Short-Yardage & Red-Zone Power: Skattebo’s aggressive running style gives the Giants a reliable option inside the 20-yard line and on early downs.
• Balanced Committee: Pairing Skattebo’s power with Tyrone Tracy Jr.’s speed creates a complementary backfield dynamic for offensive coordinator Matt Nagy.
• Playoff Urgency: At 3-2-1, New York cannot afford empty offensive possessions, making Skattebo’s ball security a focal point against Houston’s high-motor defense.

If Skattebo translates his “heck of a week of practice” onto the field at NRG Stadium, he can instantly reclaim his standing as a cornerstone of New York’s offensive attack.

Key takeaways

• John Harbaugh confirmed Cam Skattebo had a “heck of a week of practice” following his Week 6 benching and remains “a big part of our season.”
• The RB acknowledged that “nobody’s safe” after Najee Harris was released, taking full responsibility for his ball-security struggles.
• Skattebo is in line to reclaim offensive snaps against the Houston Texans to support newly named starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy.

The uncertainty at the running back position for the Giants has led to major roster shakeups. Najee Harris was cut, trade rumors surrounding Jonathan Taylor have intensified, and nobody knows for sure who the team’s true RB1 is.

Faced with this situation, Cam Skattebo admitted that nobody’s job is safe in a world as ever-changing as the NFL. The first test for the former Arizona State star will be against the Houston Texans.

Will the Giants cut Cam Skattebo?

For the time being, the Giants have no plans to cut Cam Skattebo. However, cutting Najee Harris served as a clear message to Skattebo that he could be next if he fails to produce and clean up his turnover issues.

“I got taught a lesson. I had to kind of step back and look at it. Just figure out why and what was happening. Came to practice. Corrected those things. Worked on them and I’m ready to go out there and play some ball.”

Skattebo admitted that he cannot keep constantly losing the ball, especially in clutch moments like overtime against the Commanders. Because of that, he is ready to get better. “At the end of the day, I’ve got to take care of the ball. I’ve done it my whole life. It’s as simple as that. Take care of the ball, and you’ll be just fine.”

Who did the Giants release?

The Giants recently released Najee Harris due to his low production and also as a result of a controversial comment in which he complained about a lack of touches within Matt Nagy’s offense. For Skattebo, that serves as a wake-up call for all the running backs.

“Nobody’s safe. It’s simple. If we’re not performing, we understand there’s a possibility of not being here. If I don’t perform, I know there’s a possibility of me not being here. So, we continue to work. We know where we’re at.”

Key takeaways

• Cam Skattebo admitted that the Giants could cut him.
• Due to turnovers and a lack of production, there is a lot of uncertainty at the running back position.
• As a result, Najee Harris was cut this week.

Without a clear-cut No. 1 running back, at least in Harbaugh’s eyes, it’s time for the coach and players to work together and figure out a solution to the Giants’ struggles on the ground. Clearly, handing the ball off to four different running backs and hoping one of them builds momentum and rides the hot hand wasn’t working for New York.

For the time being, the G-Men may still have no better option than to keep banging their heads against the wall. Better the devil you know, they say.

“I would love for us to be in that kind of a circumstance. A Derrick Henry circumstance or a Saquon Barkley circumstance or whatever it might be,” Harbaugh said, according to transcript from the Giants. “That would be great, and we haven’t. Our run game hasn’t earned that yet, and none of those guys have.”

Rushing offense struggles without Skattebo

Thus, for the time being, the Giants will keep pounding the rock with their collection of running backs. Harris is now out of the picture, though, leaving only: Cam Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy Jr., and Devin Singletary. Of the bunch, Skattebo is clearly the main ball-carrier.

“My advice would be to any player, do the most you can with the opportunities you get. Make the most of those opportunities and you’re sure to get more opportunities. Do something,” Harbaugh stated.

Clearly, the trio of Harris, Tracy Jr, and Singletary didn’t do enough with their opportunities (on the ground game) while Skattebo was kept on the sidelines in Week 6.

Skattebo could be back in RB1 role

Even though he accepted the punishment handed out by Harbaugh and the Giants, it’s plain to see that he’ll take the stick once, but he’ll want the carrot in Week 7, especially after watching the team’s rushing deficiencies from the sidelines and seeing how much he was missed by both fans and teammates.

Even Harbaugh may have realized that Skattebo’s benching came back to bite the team, but by then, it was already too late. The harm was done, and Harbaugh chose to stay committed to the bit.

NY Giants vie to get back in win column

As costly as Skattebo’s inactive role was, the Giants were still a controversial pass-interference no call away from tying the game. They also might have tied it—or potentially defeated the New Orleans Saints in Week 6—if JJ McCarthy had seen Malik Nabers wide open in the end zone. Unfortunately for New York, the subbed-on quarterback was too busy running for his life in the pocket.

The lesson appears to have been learned, but only time will tell. We’ll find out when the Giants take on the Houston Texans on the road. How much Skattebo and the rest of the running backs play will be very telling of how Harbaugh truly feels about the room in East Rutherford.

Key takeaways

• John Harbaugh stated the New York Giants’ running attack has not earned a featured RB role.
• Head coach John Harbaugh advised players to do the most with their opportunities to get more carries.
• The New York Giants will play their upcoming game against the Houston Texans on the road.

After the game, Skattebo accepted Harbaugh and the Giants’ punishment, which came as a sigh of relief, as a heated reaction would have only led to more drama in what’s already been a dramatic enough year for New York—and it’s not even November.

While many believed Harbaugh’s decision to bench Skattebo was merely a way to send a message, the head coach has now spoken on the matter, admitting he isn’t convinced Skattebo is the main running back option in East Rutherford. At least based on what he’s seen so far, Harbaugh is still making up his mind. Entering Week 7, the Giants may be heading into an unexpected competition for the RB1 job. Needless to say, nobody saw this coming.

“I don’t like you divvying up the snaps between four backs. One of those guys needs to step up and be the back. And none of those guys [has] done that yet,” Harbaugh stated postgame, via Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post.

NY Giants’ running back room

Coming into the season, no one would’ve questioned that Skattebo was the main running back in New York. Even coming off his gruesome injury last year, the ASU product was still expected to lead the team in touches, rushing yards, broken tackles, and friendly headbutts with teammates.

Skattebo is still leading the running back room in almost every category, but he’s also well ahead of everyone else in fumbles, with four total—more than the rest of the team combined. With Skattebo benched in Week 6, the Giants got their first taste of the Najee Harris, Devin Singletary, and Tyrone Tracy Jr. trio, and it was ugly. The three combined for just 34 rushing yards on 14 carries.

Harbaugh may have cost Giants the game

Harbaugh may be right that Skattebo hasn’t been at his best, but saying he hasn’t looked like the team’s RB1 is a bit of a stretch. At the very least, he’s been better than his competition. Skattebo’s worst game this season was his outing against the LA Rams in Week 2. Even then, he recorded 36 yards on 12 carries, more than the trio of Tracy Jr., Harris, and Singletary managed against a weaker Saints defense.

Harbaugh’s harsh approach to fumbles is nothing new, though. In Week 1, Tracy Jr. fumbled, and he didn’t see the field again afterward. Skattebo fumbled in overtime in Week 5 and didn’t play a single snap in Week 6. How much he’ll play in Week 7 remains to be seen, but it’s clear New York needs him.

As great as it is to see Harbaugh hold everyone accountable, regardless of the name on the back of the jersey, that approach can become a problem when it gets in the way of what’s actually best for the team and its aspirations for the season. In Week 6, it came back to bite the G-Men.

Key takeaways

• Cam Skattebo went without a single touch for the New York Giants in Week 6.
• Cam Skattebo has recorded four total fumbles, leading all New York Giants players.
• Tyrone Tracy Jr., Devin Singletary, and Najee Harris combined for only 34 rushing yards.

Harbaugh had a piece of advice for Skattebo after his costly fumble in Week 5 against the Washington Commanders, which was only made less costly by the Commanders’ terrible clock management. As if that wasn’t enough, Harbaugh sent another message in the loss to the Saints.

Skattebo didn’t register a single touch of the football in the home defeat at MetLife Stadium. Following the game, Skattebo spoke honestly about the coaching decision.

“I got punished for what I did (last week). I understand it so I’ve got to be ready when coach calls my name and that wasn’t today,” Skattebo admitted to media after the game, via Charlotte Carroll of The Athletic.

NY Giants’ rushing stats in Week 6

Although the Giants are reportedly seeking a new run game involving Skattebo and Najee Harris, it’s clear that wasn’t in place in Week 6 against the Saints. Instead, New York laid an egg on the ground. Against New Orleans, the Giants’ leading rusher was quarterback J.J. McCarthy with just 26 yards.

The second-best rusher was another non-halfback, as Darnell Mooney had 18 yards on one carry. Tyrone Tracy Jr., Devin Singletary, and Harris combined for 34 yards on 14 carries, an average of 2.4 yards per carry. To say New York looked anemic without Skattebo would be an understatement.

Mixed feelings for NY Giants fans

Harbaugh clearly wanted to send a message, and he did just that, loudly. However, fans don’t necessarily agree on whether the timing and extent of the punishment were right. The Giants appreciate that Harbaugh is holding his players accountable, but it’s not ideal for that to come at the team’s expense.

It’s a double-edged sword, and it’s clear which side landed on the G-Men’s foot in Week 6. New York is now 3-2-1 on the season, having squandered a great chance to keep building on its lead atop the NFC East.

Key takeaways

• Cam Skattebo benched: New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo had zero touches against Saints.
• New York Giants rushing stats: New York Giants averaged 2.4 yards per carry against New Orleans.
• New York Giants overall record: New York Giants record dropped to 3-2-1 following loss to Saints.

Per Jordan Raanan of ESPN, there is an “expectation is there will be a change to the Giants RB rotation” this week vs the Saints. In fact, Raanan expects Skattebo to have even less snaps, with Najee Harris taking a bigger workload.

Head coach John Harbaugh is trying to make a change, as the Giants consider their running game to be rather stagnant. Najee Harris was promised a relevant role when he got signed, and it seems like this is his chance to do so.

Cam Skattebo’s fumbles are an issue

During his rookie season, Skattebo had just one fumble in eight games, but he also had seven total touchdowns. That has changed dramatically this year. Skattebo has four fumbles already, and has scored just once this season. Harbaugh is not one to take fumbles lightly. However, Harbaugh revealed the Giants plan to fix fumbles as better weather is expected to arrive.

Najee Harris will step up and eat a chunk of snaps. In his six seasons in the NFL, Harris has fumbled just six times, an average of one per year. In fact, he’s had zero fumbles in three of his six seasons.

All four NY Giants running backs are active

All four New York Giants running backs—Najee Harris, Cam Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy Jr., and Devin Singletary—are active for their Week 6 game against the New Orleans Saints.

Harris and Skattebo will serve as the primary ball-handlers, with Tracy and Singletary serving as active rotational options. Tracy is very useful in pass-catching options, while Singletary is a very good blocker.

Key takeaways

• The Giants expect a change to their RB rotation against the New Orleans Saints.
• Cam Skattebo has four fumbles and one touchdown so far this season.
• All four NY Giants running backs are active for their Week 6 game.

Skattebo lost possession late in overtime while New York was in field-goal range and attempting to secure a victory. The Giants had rallied from a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter to force overtime, but the turnover interrupted their chance to finish the comeback with a win. The game eventually ended in a 27-27 tie after Washington failed to attempt a potential game-winning field goal before time expired.

The play added to a troubling trend for New York, which has struggled to protect the football during the opening weeks of the season. Skattebo has been responsible for several fumbles, although the overtime mistake against Washington was the first he lost. With the Giants preparing to face the Saints, Harbaugh was asked whether the team’s turnover issues could eventually force him to make adjustments.

Will John Harbaugh reduce Cam Skattebo’s role?

John Harbaugh acknowledged that there is a point at which repeated fumbling problems could lead to changes, making clear that the coaching staff will not ignore the issue indefinitely.

When asked whether the Giants’ fumbling problems could reach a level where adjustments become necessary, the head coach gave a brief but direct response. “Yes, there is a point.”

The follow-up question was whether the Giants had already reached that threshold. Harbaugh declined to give a definitive answer, leaving open the possibility that the coaching staff could reconsider how it handles the situation as the season progresses. “We’ll see. We’ll find out.”

The comments put Skattebo under pressure to demonstrate better ball security against New Orleans, especially with the Giants hoping to maintain their position in the NFC East race.

Harbaugh has not announced any specific change to the running back’s role, but his answers suggest that continued mistakes could force the team to reconsider its options. For now, Skattebo will have an opportunity to respond on the field and show that the costly turnover against Washington will not define his season.

Key takeaways

• John Harbaugh isn’t happy with latest Cam Skattebo’s fumbles.
• The Giants lost a big chance to win against the Commanders when Skattebo fumbled in overtime.
• Harbaugh could make changes at running back vs the Saints.

“Skatt played a hell of a game, but he’s going to have to learn from that, and I think everyone’s gotta learn from that,” Harbaugh said during his press conference once the game concluded.

While Skattebo was the first to receive his coach’s message, it was clear that it was intended for the entire team. For the Giants to become legitimate contenders, they will need to minimize mistakes as much as possible to put together more wins.

The G-Men’s costly mistakes

The Giants were extremely fortunate to walk away with a 27-27 tie because their own mistakes almost sealed their fate long before overtime. They got off to a brutal start, managing just three points and 77 total yards in a sluggish first half. Placekicker Dominic Zvada had a nightmare afternoon, missing three field goals from 50, 57, and 46 yards out, leaving 9 free points on the board.

To make matters worse, after mounting an impressive second-half rally to force OT, Cam Skattebo coughed up a crushing fumble inside Washington’s 25-yard line right as New York was setting up for a game-winning kick. If Washington hadn’t completely botched its own clock management on the final play, those missed kicks and the late turnover would have handed the Giants a painful divisional loss.

Key takeaways

• John Harbaugh advised Cam Skattebo to learn from his late fumble against the Commanders.
• The New York Giants tied Washington 27-27 after Dominic Zvada missed three field goals.
• Cam Skattebo fumbled inside Washington’s 25-yard line, ruining a potential game-winning kick attempt.