Cam Skattebo finally returned to game action last Saturday, but New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh made clear that the running back’s recovery is not completely finished.
Skattebo played in New York’s 13-10 preseason loss to the Minnesota Vikings, his first game since suffering a serious right ankle injury last October. He looked explosive enough to provide encouragement, although Harbaugh believes there is still another level for him to reach.
John Harbaugh Says Cam Skattebo Is Not 100%
Skattebo started and carried four times for 19 yards, including a 4-yard gain on the Giants’ first offensive snap. The workload was small, but simply getting back into a live game represented another major checkpoint in his recovery.
Afterward, Harbaugh was asked about the parts of Skattebo’s game that can get overshadowed by his reputation as a physical runner.
“I don’t think he’s 100%. He would say he’s not,” Harbaugh said on Monday. “But I got to see what you know about him already. I saw the foot quickness, the feel for the game, the explosiveness. It was good to watch him, good for me to see that.”
The Giants’ official transcript after the game offered similar wording, with Harbaugh saying Skattebo is not yet “100% twitchy and explosive” but is “getting there.” He added that the second-year back has come a long way over the past two or three weeks.
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Harbaugh’s assessment does not indicate Skattebo suffered a setback Saturday. The Giants said they came out of the game healthy, and Skattebo handled his first live work since the injury without a reported problem.
Skattebo Continues Long Road Back from Ankle Injury
Skattebo’s comeback began after a brutal Oct. 26 ankle injury against the Philadelphia Eagles ended his rookie season. He suffered a dislocated right ankle and required surgery, wiping out the second half of a promising first NFL campaign.
Before the injury, Skattebo rushed for 410 yards and five touchdowns on 101 carries. He also caught 24 passes for 207 yards and two touchdowns, producing 617 yards from scrimmage and seven total scores in eight games.
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His production registered a 70.9 impact score in PFN’s RB Impact Metric, ranking 40th among 55 qualifying running backs.
New York has time to keep building him toward full strength. The Giants open Sept. 13 against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football, nearly a month after Skattebo’s preseason debut.
Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Devin Singletary give Harbaugh alternatives if New York wants to manage Skattebo’s early workload. The larger goal is for the bruising back to regain the burst that helped make him one of the Giants’ most intriguing rookies last season.
Saturday supplied the first real evidence that the recovery has reached the game stage. Harbaugh liked what he saw. He also made clear that Skattebo is not quite at the finish line yet.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.