Just because the New York Giants’ signing of running back Najee Harris resulted in the release of wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster doesn’t mean there won’t be more consequences.
Far from it.
Harris worked out for the team on Monday, officially signed his contract on Tuesday, and immediately participated in practice to prove he is moving past the torn Achilles that cut his previous season short.
Related: Giants add Najee Harris after John Harbaugh gets preseason wake-up call
While he brings the pedigree of four consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons to the roster, his arrival is a direct challenge to an already crowded backfield. That especially applies to the rest of the Giants’ running back room as new head coach John Harbaugh looks to construct the best group possible entering Week 1.
Dante “Turbo” Miller was waived with an injury designation, leaving Cam Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy Jr., Devin Singletary, Eric Gray, and Damon Bankston to figure out what Harris’ arrival means for them.
Giants’ crowded backfield has a new problem named Najee Harris
Cam Skattebo
Skatt's role shouldn't change all that much, seeing as the two backs are pretty similar in their playing styles. Harris feels more like Skattebo insurance than anything else, although they're both coming back from season-ending injuries.
Where I can see Skatt's role changing a bit is in short-yardage situations and goal-line chances. Harbaugh might want to protect his lead back and not throw him out there to get banged up on every obvious run play. In those cases, I'd expect Harris to come in and put his 6-foot-1, 240-pound frame and career 3.9 yards-per-carry to good use.
Tyrone Tracy Jr.
A lot has been said about Tyrone Tracy Jr.'s missed blocking assignment that led to franchise quarterback Jaxson Dart getting hit straight to the medical tent. It was a terrible look for the third-year back whose name appeared next to Skatt's on the first team on the initial depth chart.
Well, putting his QB in harm's way is a fast way to move down the depth chart. Harbaugh even said after the game that the hit should never have happened, but breakdowns in blocking are bound to happen, even if they shouldn't.
Even though the missed block was egregious, that likely won’t have much impact on TTJ’s status as one of the team’s top two backs. His skill set as a receiving back and big-play guy isn't necessarily rivaled by Harris' playing style. Yes, he will inherently lose touches to Harris if he makes the 53-man roster, but that’s more so the nature of adding another back to the rotation.
Devin "Motor" Singletary
And this is where things get interesting. Motor was long assumed to be a cap casualty when the 2025 season ended. Instead, he reworked his deal to take less money to stay in East Rutherford, indirectly helping New York navigate the cap while improving the roster in free agency.
Unfortunately, he might've been better off being cut, spending a whole offseason with another team to see if he could latch on as a third option somewhere else. If Harris makes the roster, it's hard to envision Singletary making it, too.
Of course, if he's waived, he could still join another team; it just would have been easier had he been working in that system over the spring and summer instead of trying to catch on somewhere else a day or two after roster cutdowns. It's unlikely the G-Men carry four backs (not including fullback Patrick Ricard) on their roster. Consider this the beginning of the end for the eight-year vet.
Eric Gray
Gray was already on the outside looking in before the signing, and now he might not even be looking in anymore. The fourth-year back was supposed to be a three-level threat when New York selected him with the 172nd pick in the 2023 Draft. Three seasons later, he has 31 rushes for 79 yards, 16 receptions for 104 yards, and 27 kick returns, averaging 24.2 yards per return.
He won't have a realistic shot at making the 53-man roster as a running back, but as a running back who moonlights as a specialist... there's a chance. However, with wide receiver/special teams ace Braxton Berrios looking more and more likely to make the team, there's no real need for Gray.
There’s still reason to believe he has some untapped potential. There's a chance he could hang on as an RB3 for a running-back-needy team after his inevitable release.
Damon Bankston
Well, it was fun while it lasted. New York signed the undrafted rookie out of New Mexico earlier this offseason. He had his moments -- including a three-touchdown performance -- but he was always going to be a long shot to make the roster, even without Harris in his way.
And now he has Harris standing in his way.
Like Gray, Bankston has triple-threat ability: rushing, receiving, and returning. There's a chance he returns to Big Blue's practice squad and waits his turn, but there's quite a line in front of him.
Harris still has to earn his spot, but his arrival puts everyone behind Skattebo and Tracy on notice. Singletary has the most to lose, while Gray and Bankston have an even tougher path to the 53.
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