The Giants moved on from Najee Harris on Tuesday, closing the book on a short and rocky stay in New York after his public frustration with the backfield rotation spilled into the open.
Harris had just one rough outing to point to, but it was a brutal one: two yards on four carries in the Giants’ 34-27 loss to the New Orleans Saints. Afterward, the 28-year-old said it was tough to settle in when he kept getting shuffled on and off the field.
“It’s hard to get into a rhythm with one or two plays,” Harris told reporters. “If you’re getting a play here and then get taken out for a series, there’s nothing you could do. I’ve never been through none of this before.”
That complaint didn’t land well with head coach John Harbaugh, who made it clear the rushing attack had to earn more trust before anyone could talk about rhythm.
“Our run game hasn’t earned that yet, none of those guys have,” Harbaugh said. “My advice would be, do the most you can with the opportunities you get.
Make the most of your opportunities and you’re sure to get more. Do something.
I get it, you want to get out there and get a rhythm, but that rhythm is earned, too. And that hasn’t happened yet.
I know he understands that.”
By Tuesday, the Giants had made their decision. NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported New York was releasing Harris, ending his brief run in North Jersey just as quickly as it began.
Harris finishes his Giants stint with 99 yards on 31 carries, a 3.2-yard average that never gave the team much reason to lean on him more heavily. The former first-rounder opened his career with four straight 1,000-yard seasons, but his career average of 3.9 yards per carry and his torn Achilles last year left plenty of questions about whether he could still carry a featured role.
The blocking in front of him didn’t help. Jon Runyan hasn’t been good enough, and rookie Francis Mauigoa is still getting comfortable at guard. But the bigger issue was the full four-back setup, which clearly wasn’t working.
With Harris gone, the Giants have one less runner to mix in, and the focus now appears to be on Cam Skattebo and Tyrone Tracy Jr. Those two are the most explosive options New York has, even if Skattebo still has to figure out how his hands work.
If neither can seize the job, the Nov. 10 trade deadline is less than three weeks away.
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