He’s talking and acting like the workhorse the New York Giants need to power a more physical rushing attack, but Big Blue’s rivals are already sounding a warning about second-year running back Cam Skattebo.
That’s according to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan, who revealed, “multiple executives have expressed to ESPN reservations about him (Skattebo) remaining healthy long term considering his size and style of play. It was a contributing factor to the former Arizona State player being selected in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL draft despite being one of the most productive players in college football.”
The rival executives Raanan mentioned are making an obvious reference to Skattebo’s durability following his recovery from a dislocated ankle. He had his rookie season cut short by the injury, and further problems do seem inevitable thanks to Skattebo’s eagerness to invite contact in the pile.
Skattebo has already sent a defiant message about how he’ll continue to play the game. What’s ironic here is new head coach John Harbaugh and longtime run-game coordinator Greg Roman won’t want Skattebo to alter the way he punishes defenses.
The Giants don’t appear to share the worries about Skattebo. Not based on how he’s being used this preseason.
Cam Skattebo Being Treated Like a Lead Back
Raanan pointed out “Skattebo has been the first running back up most days at practice this summer (including at Thursday’s joint practice) and was the starter in the Giants’ preseason opener” against the Minnesota Vikings.
Every rep Skattebo gets as RB1 is a show of faith from Harbaugh and Roman. The latter has a strong history of designing a running game built upon extra beef up front to clear the way for a power-style back.
One play against the Vikings, highlighted by Nick Falato of SB Nation’s Big Blue View, vividly illustrated Roman’s smash-mouth plans. Roman put 300-pound All-Pro fullback Patrick Ricard into the backfield ahead of Skattebo, and stacked veteran blocking tight end Chris Manhertz onto the end of the offensive line.
GettyThe Giants are re-designing their running game to better help Skattebo batter defenses.
Ricard and Manhertz collapsed one side of the line of scrimmage, and pulling left guard Jon Runyan Jr. led the way for Skattebo. This was a classic pin-and-pull, power-running concept Roman and Harbaugh have favored for years.
The play design suits Skattebo’s north-south running style and brute force mindset. Overloading the trenches and moving bigger blockers into space against lighter defenders will create wider lanes for Skattebo, but the Giants still need him to overcome one “complex” problem.
Unfortunately, shedding more tackles might invite the injury risks those executives have warned the Giants about. Fortunately, those same executives are overlooking a key feature of the Harbaugh and Roman run game.
A familiar theme that will help protect Skattebo.
Giants Have Familiar Way to Protect Running Backs
Relying on safety in numbers is how Harbaugh and Roman kept the backfield fresh when they worked together for the Baltimore Ravens. They split carries between Mark Ingram II, Gus Edwards and Justice Hill in 2019, before J.K. Dobbins joined the mix a year later.
Veteran Kenyan Drake supported Dobbins, Edwards and Hill two seasons later. It was Roman’s last year in Baltimore, but Harbaugh was still using a rushing committee with the Ravens in 2025.
Raanan noted how “Harbaugh isn’t averse to keeping four running backs. The Baltimore Ravens had four on their Week 1 roster last season, and that was with Derrick Henry as their feature back.”
Harbaugh can replicate the same approach with the Giants. There’s no shortage of capable other backs on the roster, including newly arrived four-time 1,000-yard rusher Najee Harris.
GettyHarbaugh can lean into his history of featuring multiple running backs.
He fits how Harbaugh wants the Giants to run the ball, and Harris is already eager to embrace Roman’s schemes. The arrival of Harris gives the Giants more muscle in the backfield, but won’t necessarily spell trouble for slashing speedster Tyrone Tracy Jr., who’s topped 1,000 yards from scrimmage in each of the last two seasons.
Tracy’s “also been a regular working with starting quarterback Jaxson Dart this summer. He was the first running back up at Tuesday’s practice and remains part of the mix,” according to Raanan.
Experienced change-of-pace back Devin Singletary is another name to watch in the rotation. Somebody with the versatility to take touches away from Skattebo.
Sharing the carries will keep Giants’ runners fresh and reduce any worry about those “reservations” concerning Skattebo’s health.
Giants’ Rivals Reveal ‘Reservations’ About Cam Skattebo