The New York Giants have made a very quick turnaround from the days of Daniel Jones. Now with a strong front seven defensively, an elite playmaker in Malik Nabers, and a potential franchise quarterback in Jaxson Dart, the pieces are starting to fall into place.
This summer, they also hired John Harbaugh as the new head coach to take them to the next level. But one concerning area for the team has been the running back spot, where Cam Skattebo has been embroiled in controversy.
Cam Skattebo Has Only One Gear
After a dislocated ankle injury, the offseason has been a wildly controversial one for Skattebo. From some unsavory comments on streams and interviews to recklessly trying a backflip on the ankle, the danger has been hard to ignore.
However, things reached a fever pitch in practice recently. After first running over linebacker Zaire Barnes during a non-contact drill, he slid down to the ground after catching a pass, which further annoyed members of the defense.
Eventually, the two sides got into a heated confrontation that even turned physical, albeit without any punches being thrown. Still, some members of the Giants fan base continue to defend him, as evidenced by Tommy Lugauer of “WFAN Sports Radio.”
START PREPARING: PFN’s Free Fantasy Draft Simulator
“There was a lot made of Cam Skattebo starting a fight, and maybe a couple of his teammates didn’t appreciate something he did on the field,” Lugauer said. “Let’s just completely get this out there, straight, and 100% correct: Cam Skattebo is the best thing for the Giants.”
Pointing to the evidence, Lugauer explained, “When Cam Skattebo went down with an injury last year, the offense took a nosedive. Cam Skattebo, along with Jaxson Dart, were exactly what this offense needed. Toughness and edge, some ability.”
Tommy says Cam Skattebo is exactly what the Giants need amid reports of a fight at practice:@tommylugauer pic.twitter.com/TMS6eOpoLl
— WFAN Sports Radio (@WFAN660) August 27, 2026
Continuing with the upside, he added, “He’s obviously become a huge fan favorite and whether it’s the toughness, the running style, the ability, everything about it. Skat is what’s best for the Giants team.”
BE THE GM OF YOUR FAVORITE TEAM: PFN’s Free NFL Mock Draft Simulator
A fourth-round pick for the Giants, nobody expected Skattebo to become such an integral part of the offense as a rookie. But after an explosive outing against the Philadelphia Eagles, where he recorded three touchdowns, he immediately became a vital cog for them.
Unfortunately, playing just eight games last season, he ranked at number 40 on PFN’s Running Back Impact Metric. Still, given the upside he brings, Lugauer believes Skattebo is more valuable than whoever he was fighting on defense.
“I don’t really need to hear from Jevon Holland if he has a problem with the way Cam Skattebo’s handling himself at practice,” Lugauer concluded.
Rather than an isolated incident, though, the pattern of behavior from Skattebo has been worrisome.
Some poor choices this summer, culminating in a scuffle at training camp, don’t shine a bright light on him. It will be interesting to see if he falls into line more as the season rolls around, or if this trend continues, his attitude could become a point of friction in the locker room.
