The Giants’ running back picture got even messier Tuesday, and Najee Harris was right in the middle of it.
The recently signed veteran worked with the first-team offense, a move that only sharpened the questions already hanging over Tyrone Tracy Jr., Devin Singletary and Cam Skattebo. Harbaugh also listed Harris as the co-No. 2 back on Tuesday’s unofficial depth chart, alongside Singletary and Tracy, a clear sign that he’s viewing the former Steelers starter as more than a camp body.
That kind of jump would be noteworthy in any summer. It feels even bigger now because Harris is coming off an Achilles injury, which makes the amount of trust being placed in him feel especially aggressive.
If the Giants were to keep only three traditional running backs, the math gets tight fast. Pat Ricard brings fullback and tight end experience and is locked into the Week 1 roster, while Skattebo looks like a sure thing.
That leaves two spots for Singletary, Tracy and Harris. Singletary is making a push and is on the veteran minimum, while Tracy still has two years of team control left, making a trade seem unnecessary.
There’s also been growing chatter that Harbaugh could simply keep all four backs for Week 1. That idea made sense as recently as Tuesday morning, and it may still.
But roster decisions at running back don’t happen in a vacuum. Calvin Austin III suffered a possibly severe knee injury Tuesday afternoon, and if he ends up on IR, that opens another hole at receiver.
That could force Harbaugh and Joe Schoen to chase help before Week 1, and the Browns’ Cedric Tillman has already been mentioned as a possible fit. Monday’s Kayshon Boutte trade also showed that available receivers may not cost much more than a late-round pick, and maybe not even one in 2027.
Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson have seen plenty of Harris over the years from the other sideline in Ravens-Steelers matchups, so they know exactly what they’re betting on here. The fact that they moved this quickly suggests they believe he belongs.
Even so, the organization hasn’t exactly lost the benefit of the doubt. Harbaugh and Schoen have done enough right on paper that this Harris move alone shouldn’t shake much faith from Giants fans.
For now, Harris is not expected to play against the Jets this weekend. As of Wednesday, Harbaugh still had not said whether Skattebo would be active for the preseason finale.
In Other News...
Cam Skattebo's Practice Fire Just Put Giants On Notice
Cam Skattebo keeps showing up as the kind of running back who plays with an edge, and the Giants got another reminder of that during practice. On a non-contact period, Skattebo slid after a catch and came close to the legs of defensive backs Jevon Holland and Greg Newsome, a sequence that quickly turned chippy and brought the defense into the moment. For a team trying to set a tone around its new lead back, the incident fit the profile of a player who brings force and urgency every snap.
Head coach John Harbaugh pointed to Skattebos energy later in the workout, even after the rookie was assessed a 15-yard penalty at the end of practice, and said the challenge is keeping that intensity pointed in the right direction. That balance matters for a Giants offense planning to lean on Skattebo after he rushed for 410 yards and five touchdowns in eight games as a rookie before a broken ankle ended his season. If the physical style is part of what makes him special, the Giants will still have to live with the fine line that comes with it. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Receiver Room Just Sent Another Clear Message
The Giants kept churning through the back end of their receiver group this week, with Ryan Miller moving on after being waived and then claimed by the Dolphins the following day. It was a quick turn for a player who had joined New York last December, stuck around by re-signing this offseason, and still found himself squeezed out by a wideout room that has become crowded enough to make even a retained player vulnerable.
Miami had to clear a spot for Miller by waiving Tahj Washington, a reminder that roster movement at the bottom of the depth chart is often a one-for-one game. For the Giants, the episode adds another small piece to the larger picture at receiver, where the numbers game has already made the competition tight and the margin for keeping depth is getting thinner. [Read more 🡒]
Giants May Have Their Dexter Lawrence Replacement In Sight
Dexter Lawrences departure to Cincinnati leaves a glaring hole in the middle of the Giants defense, and it is the kind of vacancy that usually sends a front office searching for a long-term fix rather than a quick patch. One early idea has already surfaced: an ESPN mock draft from Jordan Reid projects New York to use the No. 9 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft on Ole Miss defensive tackle Will Echoles, a player whose college production has made him stand out as a name to watch.
It is only a projection at this point, of course, and a lot can change between now and draft season. Still, the fit is easy to understand for a Giants team suddenly needing size, disruption and stability inside after moving on from one of the leagues most imposing tackles, and Echoles strong play gives at least a plausible starting point for that conversation. [Read more 🡒]