Cam Skattebo rushed for 78 yards and two touchdowns on Thursday, November 13, 2026, leading the New York Giants’ offense in a 24-21 loss to the Washington Commanders at MetLife Stadium.
Backfield Answer to Trade Deadline Silence
General manager Joe Schoen pursued backfield reinforcements, exploring deals for Indianapolis Colts star Jonathan Taylor and Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson, but walked away when asking prices proved too steep. Head coach John Harbaugh and his staff ultimately kept faith in their internal roster, leaving Skattebo as the primary ball carrier.
Cam Skattebo has the next nine weeks to show the Giants they don’t need to keep pursuing upgrades at running back: https://t.co/3JTR46mHRk pic.twitter.com/nUHeNWCwQs
Various sources indicated that prior to Tuesday’s cutoff, New York reached out regarding Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts, Bijan Robinson of the Atlanta Falcons, and Tony Pollard of the Tennessee Titans. Prior to talks breaking down, the Giants at one point held an offer on the table featuring a second-round pick and a fifth-round selection to land Taylor from the Colts.
The Falcons had no desire to part with foundational piece Bijan Robinson, while the Titans considered Tony Pollard too essential to the locker room to trade away. “It's a tie right now. This is the tiebreaker,” New York head coach John Harbaugh said.
All eyes will be on Cam Skattebo tonight. He's returning from a hamstring injury and is well aware the Giants tried to trade for a RB. Final 9 games are huge for his future. "I would be skeptical too if my running back was going for 60 yards per game and not exploding out," he… pic.twitter.com/SiOeYjrjnR
Skattebo acknowledged the external skepticism surrounding his early-season production, which included a costly overtime fumble against Washington on October 11 and a subsequent benching in Week 6 against the New Orleans Saints. Speaking to reporters in the locker room, the second-year running back addressed the team’s trade pursuits with candid accountability.
“I would be skeptical, too, if my running back was going for 60 yards a game and not really exploding out,” Skattebo said, as reported by NFL.
Cam Skattebo after watching Giants pursue RB at trade deadline, via @DDuggan21: "I would be skeptical, too, if my running back was going for 60 yards a game and not really exploding out. I’m still getting comfortable. I’m still learning how to play football in this league. I’ve… pic.twitter.com/tKgmzZ6fTK
“But I’m still getting comfortable, man. This is like my 13th game in the league. I’m not even through a full football season yet. I’m still learning how to play football in this league. You obviously can see I’m getting more comfortable as I play the game,” Skattebo said.
Proving Ground Against Washington
Skattebo entered the contest returning from a hamstring injury that forced him to miss the Giants’ Week 9 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. Against the Commanders, he paired his 78 rushing yards and two scores with three receptions for 44 yards through the air, marking his first multi-touchdown performance since October 2025.
The former Arizona State standout has endured an up-and-down campaign marked by durability questions and ball-security issues, having fumbled four times on 98 carries this season. His most costly turnover occurred when Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne stripped him inside the red zone during overtime on October 11, erasing a potential game-winning field goal drive in an eventual 27-27 tie.
Following a zero-touch benching in Week 6, Skattebo rebounded brilliantly during Week 7’s overtime win against the Houston Texans, rushing 17 times for 124 yards and a touchdown before suffering a hamstring muscle tear on a late run.
He’s going nuclear tonight to prove a point for sure https://t.co/2WtLoTcCt9
“You make a bad deal, that doesn’t make you better. That makes you worse. Sometimes, the best deal is the deal that you don’t make,” Harbaugh said.
Giants Maintain NFC East Lead Despite Defeat
Despite the 24-21 defeat, the Giants’ record stands at 5-2-1, maintaining their position at the top of the NFC East. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported ahead of kickoff that the Giants’ coaching staff targeted 15 to 20 carries for Skattebo to establish the ground game in wet conditions at MetLife Stadium.
"[The Commanders] have to put together a complete game."@JFowlerESPN previews the Giants-Commanders game tonight 🏈 pic.twitter.com/KRIAUecod4
With fellow running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. remaining sidelined on injured reserve, the backfield burden fell squarely onto Skattebo’s shoulders alongside Devin Singletary. Entering Week 10, Skattebo ranked No. 26 in Pro Football Network’s NFL RB Impact metric with a grade of 73.0, holding 418 rushing yards and two touchdowns across his active appearances.
“You’ve seen what I can do,” Skattebo said, via NJ.com. “When I come out and I’m ready to play football, I can be one of the most dangerous backs in the league. Simple as that.”
Once a defiant Giant, always a defiant Giant Great line @NYPost_Serby after chatting with Cam Skattebo's dad about his son's reset. https://t.co/wzdfWYEUQ7 #Giants
More on Washington Commanders
Giants wanted to get Cam Skattebo at least 15 to 20 touches tonight, depending on flow of the game and the conditions. Already at five touches: Three rushes for 23 yards and two catches for 37 yards.
Cam Skattebo says the #Giants offense failed to close the game out. He also says he thinks the stadium could be a bit louder when the defense is on the field in critical moments Then he said this about not getting the ball in some key short yardage downs late: “It sucks, and… pic.twitter.com/j5uWaTURHb
Cam Skattebo 1-yard touchdown run with 2:35 left in the first half. Dom Zvada PAT is good. Giants 7-3. Skattebo fights through tackle attempt by Jeremy Reeves, who wrapped his legs. Runs off seal block by Pat Ricard. Giants go 16 plays, 72 yards in 7:48 to take the lead.
