Cam Skattebo isn’t backing down from the moment, and he isn’t tiptoeing around Aaron Donald, either.
With the Giants set to visit the Rams on Monday night, the second-year running back made it clear he’s expecting contact, confrontation and plenty of resistance if Donald does indeed suit up. Donald’s official in-game return was still uncertain Friday morning, but that didn’t stop Skattebo from talking like a back who fully expects to run straight into one of the league’s most decorated defenders.
“He's had a couple years off, and I'm sure he's ready to go and excited to play,” Skattebo said about Donald, per the Giants' website." But he's still got to play football.
He hasn't practiced a ton. He hasn't played in a game yet or played a ton.
So, I mean, if it is his first game, then he's got to be ready for it just like we do. So, I'm excited to play against him.
He's one of the best to ever do it. It's going to be fun.
It's going to be a good challenge for the guys up front. It's going to be a good challenge.
If I have to meet him in the hole on third-and-one, then so be it. I've got to get one yard.
But he's a good player. He's one of the best to ever do it.
So, all respect to him.”
That’s classic Skattebo - blunt, fearless and very aware of the kind of collision football he likes to play. He’s built a reputation for running through traffic and welcoming the kind of snap-by-snap punishment most backs spend their careers avoiding.
The Giants have already seen what he can do. In their 28-20 Week 1 win over the Cowboys on Sept. 13, Skattebo led the team with 81 rushing yards.
Donald, for his part, has not played a competitive down since he retired in March 2024. The Rams are preparing as though he’ll be on the field Monday, but his status was still unresolved Friday morning.
Skattebo also pushed back on the idea that the Rams will be playing with some extra edge after their 27-7 loss to the 49ers in Melbourne, Australia, on Sept. 10. He doesn’t see anger as some automatic force that carries over from one team to another.
“I don't think it's like they're angry and we're not,” Skattebo added about the Rams. “You don't have a bad day because someone else is having a bad day.
You're not going to be angry because someone else is angry. If they want to be angry, they want to be angry.
I mean, I doubt they're angry, but they had a rough situation, and so be it. They're ready to play next week, just like we are.
I'm ready to go. I'm excited to play against them and see what they have.
And it's going to be a fun one.”
Whether the Rams are angry or not, the betting market is leaning heavily toward Los Angeles. DraftKings Sportsbook had the Giants as a seven-point road underdog as of Friday morning.
In Other News...
Puka Nacuas Breakup Drama Just Took Another Public Turn
Puka Nacuas off-field situation has become a public legal matter in Los Angeles County, where Hallie Aiono filed a petition to determine parental relationship to establish the Rams receiver as the legal father of their unborn son. In the filing, Aiono also requested joint legal custody, with full physical custody for herself, along with financial support tied to the pregnancy, the birth and attorney fees.
Aiono and Nacua have both since posted on social media in ways that suggest they are moving on with new relationships, adding another visible layer to a dispute that is already playing out beyond the courtroom. For a Rams team that has relied on Nacua as one of its most important players, the football side of his year now sits alongside a personal issue that is likely to keep drawing attention until the legal process runs its course. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Defense Faces A Big Week 2 Availability Question
The Rams opened the week with a familiar sort of early-season injury report, and the focus quickly landed on the defensive side. Kam Curl, Omar Speights and Nate Landman were all limited in practice because of injuries, while Kam Kinchens sat out entirely with a hamstring issue. Davante Adams also received a veteran rest day, but the bigger concern for Los Angeles is how healthy its defense can be heading into a Week 2 matchup with the Giants.
Myles Garrett was also placed on injured reserve, adding another layer to a group already being monitored closely before Sunday. The Giants have their own list of affected players, including Paulson Adebo, who did not practice because of a knee injury, but the Rams are the team with the clearest question hanging over the week: how many of their defensive pieces will actually be ready when the game gets here? [Read more 🡒]
Former Rams Receiver Charged After Deeply Embarrassing Arrest
A former Rams receivers name resurfaced this week for the wrong reason, with Stedman Bailey arrested in Florida after an incident at a Pembroke Lakes Mall entertainment complex. Police were called to the Round1 Bowling & Arcade after a witness reported Bailey and a woman engaging in explicit sexual activity, turning what should have been a routine public outing into an ugly and deeply embarrassing scene.
Bailey was later charged with one misdemeanor count of exposure of sexual organs, and he admitted to officers that his pants were down. He reportedly blamed heavy alcohol consumption for his behavior while denying that physical penetration occurred, leaving another jarring off-field headline for a player whose NFL career already feels long removed from the field. [Read more 🡒]