Cam Skattebo took less than six months to develop a cult-like following among fans. The New York Giants running back transformed the identity of the team with his downhill, physical running style and constant energy.
Unfortunately, his rookie campaign was cut short by a brutal leg injury. He ended up appearing in just eight games and totaling 101 carries. The seemingly unstoppable momentum the back had built up was shut down in an instant.
But the former Arizona State star has his sights set on much more in his second season. Not only does he intend to return to the field for the Giants' Week 1 game against the Dallas Cowboys, but he also believes he can set a franchise record for rushing yards.
Per The Associated Press, Skattebo said, "I had 400 yards on 100 carries. When I play 17-plus games this year, it’s going to be 300 carries for over 2,000 yards."
Giants' Cam Skattebo sets sky-high expectations for his second season
The math doesn't quite work out there. The fourth-round pick averaged 4.1 yards per carry as a rookie. It's a respectable number, but it's far from league-altering. Based on his projections, that number needs to jump well over six yards per carry. For reference, Saquon Barkley hit 5.8 yards per carry in his historic 2024 campaign.
But the Giants don't need him to set a franchise record to see a dramatic improvement in their running game. New York hasn't had a running back reach 1,000 rushing yards since Barkley did it in 2022. If Skattebo can even hit that mark, it'll be a sign of much-needed stability in the offense.
Of course, the second-year star will have to stay healthy throughout the season to come close to his goal. Though the team hasn't confirmed his timeline, he expects to be ready for the season opener. He said, "Obviously there’s ups and downs in the injury process and coming back and rehabbing, but the mental battle has been the hardest part: making sure that I trust it fully. I’m a little ways out. Not too far, but I’ll be ready to go. Week 1, I’ll be ready to go."
With a rushing style that borders on recklessness, health could be a persistent issue for Skattebo. Staying on the field for all 17 regular-season games would be an achievement in itself, let alone setting records on the stat sheet.
Add us as a preferred source on Google