Giants and running back Cam Skattebo trade conflicting explanations after zero-carry game
Giants running back Cam Skattebo said he was punished for fumbling, while head coach John Harbaugh said the lack of carries was not a deliberate benching.
The New York Giants lost 34-27 to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, with running back Cam Skattebo seeing only six snaps and no rushing attempts. Skattebo, who had fumbled four times earlier in the season, told reporters that the coaching staff "punished" him for the turnovers and that he "got to own up to them."
"I got punished for what I did," Skattebo said. \"I understand it, so I gotta be ready when Coach calls my name, and that wasn’t today.\"
Giants head coach John Harbaugh responded that the decision was not a planned benching. He said the team simply did not call any running plays while Skattebo was on the field.
"It wasn’t by design for him not to carry the ball," Harbaugh said. "It’s just, when he was in there, we didn’t call any runs."
When pressed for further details, Harbaugh expressed frustration with the questioning, stating he had provided the clearest answer possible. The Giants used other backs—Najee Harris, Tyrone Tracy Jr., and Devin Singletary—who combined for 34 yards on 14 carries in the loss. The team may need to weigh Skattebo’s fumble risk against the need to improve its rushing attack in upcoming games.