John Harbaugh’s Week 1 running back picture may already be giving away one of the Giants’ biggest surprises.
Officially, the Giants still list former Pittsburgh Steelers starter Najee Harris as part of a crowded backup group. Unofficially, the way Harbaugh set up his first depth chart suggests Harris is much closer to a real role than a simple reserve label would imply.
On the Giants’ Week 1 unofficial chart, Harris is grouped as a co-No. 2 back with Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Devin Singletary behind Cam Skattebo for Sunday’s matchup with the rival Cowboys. That alone says plenty about where Harris stands entering the opener.
The running back room has already been one of the more talked-about parts of this roster, even with all four backs surviving final cuts. But Harris should not be brushed aside just because he arrived late and is still working back from the torn Achilles tendon that cost him almost all of last season.
The Giants signed Harris only days after Tracy missed a crucial block against the Vikings. Jaxson Dart, who had been tested for concussions at least five times as a rookie, was quickly hurried into the blue medical tent, though he passed the evaluation.
Could the Giants have added Harris anyway? Possibly.
But the early signs around this coaching staff point to first impressions mattering, and not everyone in this backfield has made the kind of impression that locks in trust. Tracy and Skattebo have each had moments that did the opposite, with Skattebo’s viral failed backflip requiring him to publicly repeat that he and Harbaugh have a strong relationship.
There’s also the simple roster reality: Harris is the only active running back Harbaugh didn’t inherit, with a slight asterisk for Singletary, who agreed to a restructured contract in March. Even that move suggests the Giants likely would not have brought Singletary back if Harbaugh had not wanted him.
If the guess here is who handles the most carries against Dallas, Harris and Skattebo look like the likeliest answer. Tracy appears to have slipped out of favor, while the 29-year-old Singletary fits as a steady depth option.
Harbaugh has already shown he wants Harris involved, and Harris was earning first-team carries within days of signing. He even played in the preseason finale when the safer assumption might have been that he would sit and wait for a practice squad opening.
Whether the Giants keep all four backs active for Sunday is still unclear. As of publication, they do not have a running back on the practice squad. Eric Gray was waived during final cuts and remains a free agent.
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Giants Already Sent Paulson Adebo A Brutal Week 1 Message
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For a player expected to factor prominently into New Yorks plans, that placement sends a pretty clear message about where the competition stands entering the opener. Depth charts can change quickly once games start, but for now Adebo has some ground to make up if he wants to reclaim a first-string role in a cornerback room that is already taking shape. [Read more 🡒]