Cam Skattebo’s status is one of the biggest questions hanging over the Giants as they turn their attention to the Eagles.
The rookie running back is still dealing with the hamstring injury he picked up in New York’s Week 7 overtime win over the Houston Texans, and he was not on the practice field Monday when the team got back to work after the bye. The injury happened after Skattebo ripped off a 42-yard run in overtime to help seal the victory, but the burst came with a cost.
Giants head coach John Harbaugh said the team is still waiting to see how Skattebo responds as the week unfolds.
“It’s going to be probably day to day up to the game,” Harbaugh said. ”We’re going to just have to see where we’re at.
I’ll probably have more information toward the end of the week. We’ll see on both those guys where we’re at.“
Skattebo’s season has been a roller coaster. He found the end zone in the Week 1 win over the Dallas Cowboys, then went four straight weeks without another touchdown. He also put the ball on the ground four times in the first five games, which led to a benching in the Week 6 loss to the New Orleans Saints.
Then came his rebound against Houston. Skattebo delivered his best performance of the year, carrying 17 times for 124 yards and a touchdown in the road win.
If he’s cleared to play against Philadelphia, he figures to have a major role. If he can’t go, the Giants would have to lean more heavily on Devin Singletary and newly signed Gregory Desrosiers. Eric Gray, who was just signed to the practice squad, and Phil Mafah are also options who could be elevated.
In Other News...
Giants Trade Buzz Around Ashton Jeanty Comes With One Big Catch
As the trade deadline approaches, Ashton Jeanty has become one of the more intriguing names to watch for a Giants team still sorting through its backfield options. The chatter picked up after his workload dipped in a recent game, and it is easy to see why New York would at least be interested in a player with his talent and upside if the Raiders were ever willing to listen.
The catch is that any serious pursuit would come with a heavy cost, which makes this more of a conversation piece than a likely move right now. The Giants are still weighing other running back possibilities as they look for help before the deadline, and unless the market shifts in a major way, Jeanty feels like the kind of target that sparks buzz without necessarily becoming realistic. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Face A Very Different Eagles Test With NFC East Control At Stake
The Giants come out of their bye week facing a very different kind of Eagles team than the one that has defined this rivalry in recent seasons. Philadelphia has dropped six straight and sits at 2-6, a sharp turn for a roster that still carries plenty of talent but has struggled to find its footing, while New York enters with a 4-2-1 record and a chance to tighten its grip on the NFC East race.
A new-look Philadelphia offense adds another layer to the matchup, and that is where the Giants will have to be especially sharp. With Jalen Hurts unavailable, the Eagles are moving forward with Tanner McKee under center, which changes the way New York has to prepare for a division opponent that is suddenly much harder to project. For a Giants team with control of the standings within reach, the test is less about the familiar name on the jersey and more about how quickly it can adjust to what this version of the Eagles actually is. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Face A Trade Deadline Decision That Suddenly Feels Bigger
The Giants are spending their bye week in a far better spot than anyone might have expected, still sitting atop the NFC East after Dallas fell to Arizona in overtime. Even with the break, the attention around the building has not slowed, because the front office is believed to be looking for ways to shore up weak spots before the trade deadline, especially along the trenches and in the backfield.
That makes the next stretch feel more consequential than a typical midseason pause. New York has a chance to be more than just a division leader in the standings, and the deadline could be the place where it tries to turn that into something sturdier, even if no deal is imminent and nothing has been finalized yet. [Read more 🡒]
