Oct 18, 2026; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29) celebrates in the end zone with quarterback Jameis Winston (19) and tight end Isaiah Likely (9) after scoring a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh wants to name a bona fide No. 1 running back. The problem is that none of his three options have gone out and snatched it.
“I would love for us to be in that kind of a circumstance,” Harbaugh said. “A Derrick Henry circumstance or a Saquon Barkley circumstance or whatever it might be. That would be great, and we haven’t. Our run game hasn’t earned that yet, and none of those guys have.”
Of course, this entire conundrum for the Giants’ first-year head coach could have been avoided had general manager Joe Schoen held onto Barkley, who was drafted by Big Blue and rose to stardom at MetLife Stadium. Instead, he let him walk to the Philadelphia Eagles, where he promptly rushed for 2,000 yards and won a Super Bowl two years ago.
Instead, he had been parsing through Cam Skattebo, Najee Harris, Tyrone Tracy Jr., and Devin Singletary.
That number is now down to three, as the Giants released Harris on Tuesday morning.
Skattebo, the second-year man out of Arizona State, had been the closest thing the Giants had to a top running back, but after a costly fumble in overtime against the Washington Commanders in Week 5, he received zero touches and played in only six offensive snaps in Sunday’s loss to the New Orleans Saints.
Harris — who said it was difficult to get into a rhythm when touches are split four ways — Tracy, and Singletary combined for a measley 34 yards on 14 carries against a Saints run defense that ranked 30th out of 32 teams.
“Do understand it. Respect it,” Harbaugh said of Harris’ complaints. “Also understand that that’s earned.”
The Giants’ average of 3.8 yards per carry ranks 22nd in the NFL.
“My advice would be to any player, and it’s all the guys… do the most you can with the opportunities you get,” Harbaugh said. “Make the most of those opportunities, and you’re sure to get more opportunities. Do something. So, I get it that you want to get out there, and you want to get a rhythm, but that rhythm is earned too, and it just hasn’t happened yet. Definitely want it to happen.”
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