In the aftermath of a 34-27 defeat to the New Orleans Saints over the weekend, New York Giants running back Najee Harris demonstrated his frustration toward the team’s running-back-by-committee approach.
Even though Harris got the starting nod over a “punished” Cam Skattebo, Harris received only four carries in the loss.
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At times, the one-time Pro Bowler was lost for words when speaking with reporters afterward.
“It’s hard to get into a rhythm with one or two plays,” Harris said postgame, per The Athletic. “… If you’re getting a play here and then get taken out for a series, there’s nothing you could do. I’ve never been through none of this before.”
Now, just two days later, the 28-year-old Harris is reportedly no longer in that situation — because, according to multiple reports, he’s been released.
In five games with the Giants this season, Harris piled up 31 carries but just 99 rushing yards. His 3.2 yards per carry were the fewest he’s averaged in his six-year NFL career.
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New York head coach John Harbaugh was asked Monday about Harris voicing the difficulty of establishing a rhythm on the ground amid constant rotation at the position.
Harbaugh said he understood the frustration and respected it even.
“I would love for us to be in that kind of a circumstance, you know: a Derrick Henry circumstance or the Saquon Barkley circumstance or whatever it might be,” Harbaugh said, alluding to a scenario in which the Giants could lean on a producing star back.
“That would be great. And our run game hasn’t earned that yet. And none of those guys have. … My advice would be to any player, it’s all the guys … I’ve had the same conversation with all the running backs. … Do the most you can with the opportunities you get. Make the most of those opportunities, and you’re sure to get more opportunities. Do something. So I get it that you want to get out there and you want to get a rhythm, but that rhythm is earned, too. And it just hasn’t happened yet. Definitely want it to happen.”
Harbaugh continued: “A couple weeks ago, we kind of went that direction, and the running game was no different than it was this last game. … They want to be that guy. They’re not advocating for the other guy to be that guy. They’re advocating for themself to be that guy. And my advice is go out there and take the job when you get the ball. Take the job.”
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The Giants started Skattebo the first five games of the season. While he impressed in the season opener with 81 yards a touchdown on 18 rushing attempts in a “Sunday Night Football” win over the Dallas Cowboys, he didn’t come particularly close to matching that single-game total in any of the next four outings.
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That stretch culminated in Skattebo infamously fumbling in overtime of a Week 5 tie. With the Giants already in position for a potential game-winning field goal against the Washington Commanders, the second-year back coughed up the rock.
That mistake cost New York a chance at a divisional win and seemingly put him in the doghouse. Skattebo didn’t get a single touch in the setback against the Saints this past Sunday.
“I got punished for what I did. I understand it, so I gotta be ready when coach calls my name and that wasn’t today,” Skattebo told The Athletic’s Charlotte Carroll.
In Sunday’s game, in which New York faced a 34-10 deficit before backup quarterback J.J. McCarthy made a head-turning fourth-quarter comeback bid, the Giants gave three running backs carries.
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Harris ran four times for 2 yards. Devin Singletary finished with four totes and 14 yards. And Tyrone Tracy Jr. collected 18 yards on six attempts.
The 3-2-1 Giants rank 19th in the league with 104.8 rushing yards per game this season. But that placement doesn’t even fully represent their running back problems.
Harris reportedly won’t be part of the solution going forward.
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