For better or worse, the New York Giants are committed to making Najee Harris a part of what's quickly become a crowded running back room. That's a particularly troublesome development for undrafted free agent rookie Damon Bankston, whose odds of making the club's final roster are dwindling.
Bankston has had the eye of Giants fans since his arrival back in May. He's flashed the explosiveness, versatility and production in college that made him an intriguing potential diamond in the rough during training camp. It hasn't exactly translated to the preseason, though, as evidenced by New York's 26-3 exhibition win over the Miami Dolphins.
On a day the G-Men posted a 68th-percentile in rushing expected points added (EPA) relative to 2025, Bankston couldn't get anything going. He tallied just five scoreless yards on seven attempts in Miami, adding another two meager yards on two receptions.
At this rate, it's getting harder to justify Bankston's place on the 53-man squad, especially with Harris hanging over the entire backfield.
Damon Bankston's path to Giants' 53-man roster all but closed after preseason dud vs. Dolphins
Believe it or not, Bankston had -6 yards before contact. A number like that can indicate one of two things: poor offensive line play or a lack of vision by the ball-carrier. Neither outcome is good, of course; however, the aforementioned EPA mark suggests the 23-year-old had a rough outing.
Generally speaking, the Giants found success on the ground in South Beach. Veteran Devin Singletary averaged a healthy 5.0 yards per tote, including a nice 13-yard touchdown scamper. Tyrone Tracy Jr., who's under a microscope, recorded back-to-back explosive runs — albeit moments before another loud mistake.
Heck, even backup quarterback Jameis Winston found the end zone on an 11-yard opening-drive scramble. Everyone who got a crack at the Dolphins' rushing defense had at least one solid gain besides Bankston, excluding third-string QB Jake Haener's three victory-formation kneel-downs. And we haven't yet mentioned incumbent starter Cam Skattebo, who didn't suit up but will assume the bulk of the workload when he does.
It's only a matter of time before Najee Harris kicks Damon Bankston to the curb
Harris sat out for the tune-up versus the Dolphins. While that can be seen as a vote of confidence and a signal that his role is secure, it was more likely an injury-related absence. He's notably recovering from a surgically repaired torn Achilles suffered in September of this past campaign.
Either way, Harris figures to enter the mix sooner rather than later. The 2021 Pro Bowler reportedly joined New York with the impression of being a "significant contributor" in 2026 (h/t ESPN's Jordan Raanan).
Across two preseason games this summer, Bankston has a 10-11-0 rushing line. He hasn't made much of an impact as a pass-catcher or on special teams either.
Note: Metrics courtesy of Pro Football Focus' premium stats ($).
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