Holy smokes, talk about a disappearing act! Giants running back Cam Skattebo, who had racked up a solid 91 touches through the first five games of the 2026 season, got absolutely zilch in Week 6. That’s right, in their 34-27 loss to the Saints, Skattebo registered exactly zero touches. You gotta be kidding me.
Harbaugh’s “Not By Design” Defense After Skattebo Got Benched Hard
So, what gives? Skattebo was on the field for six plays in that Saints game, but the ball never, ever found his hands. After the dust settled, coach John Harbaugh faced the music and told reporters this massive benching wasn’t intentional. “It was not by design,” Harbaugh claimed. He went on to say, “I mean, all those guys were taking equal reps in the first half. We were trying to see who could make something happen, who could kinda get a hot hand and earn it. Nobody’s really taking the bull by the horns. . . . It wasn’t by design for him not to carry the ball. It was just, when he was in there, we didn’t call any runs.”
Now, that’s a statement, but let’s connect some dots here. Just a week prior, in Week 5, Skattebo coughed up a critical overtime fumble. That was his fourth fumble of the season! After that game, Harbaugh sounded a lot less certain about Skattebo’s future, hinting that they’d “see” and “find out” if his opportunities would be reduced. Is this Week 6 shutout really “not by design,” or is it the consequence Harbaugh subtly foreshadowed? It sure smells like a consequence to me.
The Ground Game That Couldn’t Take the Bull by the Horns
And if Harbaugh’s plan was to find someone else to “take the bull by the horns,” well, that didn’t exactly happen either. The Giants’ ground game was absolutely pathetic. Who led them in rushing, you ask? Their quarterback, J.J. McCarthy, with a meager 26 yards on two attempts. Twenty-six yards! Receiver Darnell Mooney chipped in 20 yards on a single carry. The actual running back with the most yards was Tyrone Tracy, and he managed only 18 yards on six carries. So, while Skattebo was riding the pine, no one else stepped up to fill that void. That whole “hot hand” thing? Yeah, never materialized.
The Giants are heading to visit the Texans next Sunday. You have to wonder what’s going to happen with Skattebo. Will he magically reappear in the game plan, or was this “not by design” comment just coach-speak for a full-on benching? This early season trend is definitely something to keep an eye on, because a ground game that relies on the QB for rushing yards isn’t going to cut it long term.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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