Giants' John Harbaugh may want to replace Cam Skattebo before trade deadline

Days after first-year New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh kept second-year running back Cam Skattebo in the figurative doghouse throughout New York's 34-27 home loss to the New Orleans Saints on Oct. 18, reports revealed that the Giants are among teams that could target a move for Indianapolis Colts star ball-carrier Jonathan Taylor ahead of the Nov. 10 NFL trade deadline. 

For a mailbag published on Thursday, Connor Hughes of SNY suggested that Harbaugh could want to acquire a new RB1 this fall. 

Giants "likely" to make a running back move before trade deadline

"Skattebo is a nice complement to a bell cow," Hughes wrote. "The player you bring in for a physical change-of-pace. He is not a No. 1 back. He should not be getting 20-plus carries again. He’s not quick, has little burst, lacks elite athleticism, and runs into contact. The Giants will likely try to add to the running back room before the trade deadline. It’s just a matter of if they can do anything."

Skattebo previously said that he had no touches in the Saints game because he was being "punished" after he committed a costly fumble late in New York's 27-27 tie against the Washington Commanders on Oct. 11. However, franchise icon and team analyst Tiki Barber later insisted that he "knows" that Skattebo's demotion was due to "more" than just one play. 

Before the Giants released veteran Najee Harris this week, Harbaugh made it clear that he wanted a back to "do something" to receive the bulk of the team's carries during games. Hughes' update would lead one to think Harbaugh doesn't believe Skattebo is capable of doing that "something" over the next few weeks. For what it's worth, Hughes thinks it could cost at least a "Day 2" draft pick for a team to acquire Taylor ahead of Nov. 10. 

John Harbaugh knew what Cam Skattebo wasn't this past winter

"The Giants told you what they think of Skattebo in the offseason," Hughes explained. "They made a serious run at [Kenneth Walker III] in free agency, with a willingness to hit $12M annually to bring him aboard. They wanted Jeremiyah Love bad in the draft. They knew he wasn’t getting past [the Arizona Cardinals at pick No. 3]."

Presumably, Skattebo will have more of a role in Harbaugh's game plan when the 3-2-1 Giants play at the 2-4 Houston Texans this coming Sunday. As of Thursday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had Big Blue as a 10.5-point road underdog for that game.