124 yards should end the Giants’ disappearing-back routine

October 25, 2026 game at Houston. Oct 25, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo (44) runs with the ball during overtime against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectCam Skattebo went from zero touches to 124 rushing yards in one week. The Giants don’t need to turn that into a complicated lesson.I want him to have an actual baseline of work when they return from the bye. Not every carry, not a starting title that protects him from bad play, but a role that doesn’t disappear after one difficult afternoon for the offense.October 25, 2026 game at Houston. Oct 25, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo (44) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectSkattebo carried 17 times, scored a touchdown and broke a 42-yard run in overtime during Sunday’s 27-21 victory at Houston. His official NFL game log confirms a career-high rushing total that followed a game in which he didn’t touch the ball against New Orleans.The Giants got more than one long runThe overtime burst deserves the attention. It put New York in position for Devin Singletary’s winning touchdown on the next play. But subtract those 42 yards and Skattebo still produced 82 on his other 16 carries, a little more than five yards per attempt.That matters when deciding what should carry over. This wasn’t a quiet rushing day rescued entirely by one enormous gain. The Giants’ postgame performance review also credited him with six forced missed tackles and four explosive carries, citing Next Gen Stats.The result doesn’t mean Singletary should go back to waiting. He gained 41 yards on five carries, added three catches for 14 yards and finished the game with a 30-yard touchdown. There is room for both backs to contribute, and Sunday’s win is a better argument for a useful rotation than for replacing one forgotten player with another.0What do you think?Post a comment.Tyrone Tracy Jr.’s hamstring injury adds uncertainty. He left during the second quarter, and there isn’t a confirmed return date to build around. The Giants should prepare for different availability scenarios during their Week 8 bye rather than assume the same backfield will be ready for Philadelphia.A workload that can survive an ordinary gameThe harder test will come when Skattebo isn’t averaging more than seven yards per carry. A dependable role means giving him enough chances to work through an ordinary stretch, while still adjusting when another back or a particular matchup offers more.One career day doesn’t prove the run game is repaired. It does give the coaches evidence that deserves more weight than the six snaps Skattebo received a week earlier. After the bye, his opportunities should reflect what he just did, with Singletary still involved and Tracy’s health assessed on its own timeline.Related HeadlinesNY Giants should give their latest call-up a job, not a cameoGiants lose Jevon Holland after a brutal week on defensePaulson Adebo’s Giants return should come with a snap planRead more at Empire Sports Media