The only time anyone saw New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo on Sunday was in a State Farm commercial, in the locker room afterward or on the same bench we also saw quarterback Jameis Winston, who spent the fourth quarter as a backup while JJ McCarthy led a rally.
So yeah, coach John Harbaugh almost had it with some of his guys early and late Sunday.
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The Giants coach benched Skattebo, even though he said he didn’t. Skattebo entered the game but did not carry the ball, perhaps because he has fumbled four times and lost one this season.
JJ McCarthy #18 of the New York Giants warms up before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ on October 4, 2026. (Al Bello/Getty Images)
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Harbaugh also benched Winston in the fourth quarter after throwing two interceptions and being mostly ineffective.
And now we have some issues to sort out as the Giants might be looking for a new starting quarterback, while Skattebo needs to get back into his coach’s good graces by playing better.
“The way they play is kind of the main thing,” Harbaugh said.
May 9, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States; New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo (44) speaks to members of the press after rookie minicamp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center. (John Jones-Imagn Images)
What did Harbaugh get for his roster moves?
The Giants running game accounted for 84 yards of forgettable mileage in New Jersey. But the team got McCarthy to make a strong case for being the starting quarterback in the future. SO …
Welcome to Harbaugh’s doghouse, Cam Skattebo.
Welcome to a possible lead role in the shadow of Broadway, JJ McCarthy.
McCarthy played well, throwing for 243 yards in the final 11 minutes of the game and helping erase a 34-10 deficit in a tough 34-27 loss.
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“I thought he came out there and did a heck of a job considering the circumstances,” Harbaugh said.
And that’s what Harbaugh didn’t say: that Winston will remain the starter for the next game.
Head coach John Harbaugh of the New York Giants reacts during the second quarter of a game against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium on September 13, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Getty Images)
“I can’t answer that question right now,” Harbaugh said. “The game just ended 10 minutes ago.”
The New York media pressed Harbaugh on the subject. And the coach pushed back.
“Like I said, I can’t answer now,” he repeated. “It’s not even a topic of discussion or conversation right now. We have to get back to work. I mean, I have no problem with Jameis. I like the way he competes, I like the way he fights. All that kind of stuff.”
You didn’t hear it either, did you? He didn’t say Winston remained the starter.
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That’s good news for McCarthy, who was traded to the Giants from the Vikings last month.
“I’m not happy when you lose,” McCarthy said. “At the end of the day, no matter what, we’re trying to get that 1-0 win every week, and I have to watch the video and find ways to improve.”
New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo runs with the ball for a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles during the third quarter at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on October 9, 2025. (Brad Penner/Imagn Images)
The Giants have a lot to do with their running game. And it’s definitely a competition right now as four running backs — Najee Harris, Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy and Devin Singletary — compete for playing time and carries.
“Nobody really took the bull by the horns,” Harbaugh said of his running backs. “… So we put four (active) guys in and see if we can get something going with the running game. That was the idea.
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“It wasn’t planned for (Skattebo) not to carry the ball. When he was in there, we didn’t call any runs.”
And this: “One of these guys needs to step up,” Harbaugh said. “One of these guys needs to step up and be in the back.”
The Giants need a running back to step up, which we may have seen Sunday from a new starting quarterback.
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