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Tyrone Tracy Jr.'s preseason blunder puts No. 2 spot in jeopardy

New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

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Giants RB Tyrone Tracy Jr.'s second preseason blunder puts No. 2 spot in jeopardy

By Conor Killmurray | Last updated Aug 22, 2026 11:20 PM ET

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Running back Tyrone Tracy Jr.'s spot on the New York Giants' depth chart might be slipping downward after two weeks of poor preseason performances.

On Saturday, against the Miami Dolphins, Tracy Jr. found himself in the spotlight a week after blowing a blitz pickup that led to Jaxson Dart taking his sixth trip to the blue medical tent in his career. The running back fumbled the ball in the red zone after slipping on the wet grass just as he hit the line of scrimmage.

Now, since it was a preseason game, the turnover didn't matter to the overall flow of the game. New York's lineup of mostly backups still soundly beat the Dolphins 26-3, giving John Harbaugh his first win as the Giants' new head coach.

But it matters for Tracy Jr., who finds himself in a battle to keep his spot as the No. 2 running back. A spot that wasn't thought to be in jeopardy at the start of the summer.

The @MiamiDolphins jump on the loose ball!

NYGvsMIA on @nflnetwork
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/wWvUOIfffY
— NFL (@NFL) August 22, 2026

Tracy Jr. not making the most of in-game opportunities

In a 13-10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in preseason Week 1, Tracy Jr. had just two carries for five yards. With No. 1 running back Cam Skattebo sitting out for the Dolphins game, it was a chance for Tracy Jr. to shake off that poor performance and solidify his position behind Skattebo.

Instead, he rushed for 26 yards on six carries and found himself taking special teams snaps throughout the first half and in some of the third quarter. The special teams snaps in a preseason game are particularly alarming for a running back who was supposed to factor into the run game more. If the coaching staff is willing to keep him out there longer, then it suggests they're still looking for Tracy Jr. to give them more confidence in his No. 2 role.

It didn't help that backup running back Devin Singletary outshone Tracy Jr. on the field. The veteran Singletary rushed for 40 yards on eight carries, culminating in a 13-yard touchdown run that put his patience and vision on display.

Devin Singletary bounces it outside and takes it in for the @Giants TD!

NYGvsMIA on @nflnetwork
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/cNcRnNMKwo
— NFL (@NFL) August 22, 2026

The looming threat of Najee Harris

If Tracy Jr. had just Singletary to worry about, perhaps these performances wouldn't feel so dire. But the Giants made a point of signing running back Najee Harris on a one-year veteran minimum deal.

The 28-year-old is coming off a torn Achilles tendon, so his peak play is probably behind him, but Harris is still a back who rushed for over a thousand yards for four seasons in a row. He is also bigger than Tracy Jr., Singletary, and Skattebo, at just over six feet tall and weighing 232 lbs.

Harris' profile as a bruising running back who is dependable in short-yardage situations might be more appealing to Harbaugh, who is looking to mold the Giants into a run-first, ground-and-pound team.

If Tracy Jr. can't prove he's the back who can split time with Skattebo or step up if he's injured, then Harbaugh now has options to fill that role. And with just one more preseason game left, Tracy Jr. is running out of time.

Conor Killmurray

Conor Killmurray is a long-suffering fan of New York sports, particularly the Giants and Mets—a potent combination for heartbreak, if you ask him. He graduated from West Chester University with a degree in English and enjoys searching for the most interesting sports stories to write about.

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