Jaxson Dart challenges Giants 'to pick it up' after devastating Cam Skattebo injury

New York Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart and others in the club's locker room haven't hidden how hard it was to see first-year running back Cam Skattebo go down with a gruesome dislocation of his right ankle, a fractured fibula and ruptured deltoid ligament in New York's loss at the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 8. 

That said, Dart also realizes the San Francisco 49ers (5-3) won't be feeling sorry for the Giants when the Niners take the MetLife Stadium field this coming Sunday afternoon.

How Giants must respond to devastating Cam Skattebo blow

"Other guys just kind of have to pick it up," Dart said on Wednesday about how the Giants must respond to losing the "spark" Skattebo gave the club this fall, per the team's official website. "That's just the name of it. It'll be a little different without him out there just yelling and whatnot, but we've got some good guys in the building to kind of pick up."

Of course, the Giants won't just be without a fan favorite through Week 18, as Dart will no longer be able to rely on the club's leading ball-carrier, who had served as somewhat of a safety blanket in the passing game. During Dart's first regular-season start in Week 4, Giants star wide receiver Malik Nabers suffered a campaign-ending torn ACL and meniscus.

"I have overwhelming confidence in all the guys that step on the field with me," Dart said when asked about the injuries to Nabers and Skattebo. "I never have any doubt when I'm on the field. So, they all know that. It's just kind of our conversations during practice and whatnot. ...But, yeah, there's just been a lot of different plug-and-play situations, obviously."

Giants know they can't simply replace Cam Skattebo

Skattebo's loud personality, aggressive running style and entertaining celebrations made the 23-year-old somewhat of a household name among even casual football fans. Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton understands there's no single move the club can make to fill what will be a noticeable void on NFL Sundays. 

"Something like that is not something you replace," Slayton added about Skattebo, according to Tom Rock of Newsday. "Everybody is their own unique personality. You just have to try to find a way to collectively bring life the way he did."

As of Thursday morning, ESPN BET had the Giants as 2.5-point underdogs against the 49ers. If Big Blue gets blown out in Week 9, what seemed to be a season filled with promise on the night of Oct. 9 could quickly turn into a disaster.