Running back Cam Skattebo believes the New York Giants were sending a clear message to the locker room by releasing Najee Harris ahead of Week 7. Harris was cut just two days after starting for the Giants in a Week 6 loss to the visiting New Orleans Saints, leaving the team’s backfield reshaped as they prepare to face the Houston Texans.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Skattebo didn’t mince words about the harsh realities of the NFL roster management. Nobody is safe, the running back explained, adding that players understand the constant possibility of losing their place if they do not perform on the field. Skattebo acknowledged that the standard applies directly to him as well, stating that he knows he could face the same outcome if his own production slips.
Giants head coach John Harbaugh addressed reporters on Friday to explain the decision, pointing to roster logistics and the difficulty of carrying four running backs on the active roster. Harbaugh stated that the move was necessary to accommodate other roster additions and insisted it was nothing personal against Harris. The coach praised Harris’s effort, noting that he thought the veteran back ran extremely hard during his time with the team.
Harris recorded nine carries for just 11 yards and added one catch for five yards in his final two games with New York. Following the loss to New Orleans, Harris expressed frustration over a lack of consistent usage in the offensive scheme. He pointed out that it is difficult for a runner to get into a rhythm when getting only one or two plays before being pulled for an entire series.
The running back’s final appearance against the Saints included just four touches, a game in which Skattebo was surprisingly held without a single carry. Skattebo later remarked that he felt he had been taught a lesson by that zero-carry outing.
With Harris now off the roster, the Giants’ backfield depth chart has been trimmed to Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy Jr., and Devin Singletary. Harbaugh indicated that Skattebo will remain a significant part of the offensive game plan moving forward, highlighting that the running back had put together a strong week of practice.
The roster shakeup comes amid other significant changes for the organization. The Giants announced Wednesday that quarterback J.J. McCarthy will take over starting duties in place of Jameis Winston, who was benched late in the loss to New Orleans. Harbaugh hopes the combination of a quarterback change and a more streamlined running back rotation will help the 3-2-1 Giants maintain their grip on the NFC East lead. New York travels to face the Houston Texans, who enter the matchup at 2-4, with kickoff scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
