Giants' Cam Skattebo was 'taught a lesson' via demotion as Jonathan Taylor trade rumors swirl

Days after second-year New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo got no touches in the club's 34-27 home loss to the New Orleans Saints on Oct. 18, a report suggested that first-year Giants head coach John Harbaugh wants to acquire either Indianapolis Colts star Jonathan Taylor or a different top-tier ball-carrier ahead of the Nov. 10 NFL trade deadline. 

While speaking with reporters on Friday afternoon, Skattebo admitted that he was "taught a lesson" after he committed a costly fumble late in New York's 27-27 tie against the Washington Commanders on Oct. 11.

Cam Skattebo "ready to go back out there and play ball" after punishment

"I had to kind of step back and look at it and figure out why I was doing the things I was doing, what was happening," Skattebo explained, as shared by SNY. "Came to practice, corrected those things, worked on them. Ready to go back out there and play ball."

Skattebo committed four fumbles, one of which he lost, over the season's first five weeks, but franchise icon and team analyst Tiki Barber insisted after the Saints game that he "knows" Skattebo's demotion was due to "more" than just one thing. Specifically, Barber said that Skattebo had been responsible for "a lot of negative plays" this season. 

"At the end of the day, I've got to take care of the ball," Skattebo later acknowledged. "However that has to happen, I've got to do it. I've done it my whole life, and it's as simple as that. Take care of the ball, and you'll be just fine."

Skattebo also said that Harbaugh's decision to move on from veteran back Najee Harris this week served as a reminder that "nobody's safe." 

"If I don't perform," Skattebo added, "I know there's a possibility of me not being here."