New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo has no plans to change his running style after he returns from injury.
Skattebo had a promising rookie season in 2025, largely due to his hard-nosed, headfirst running style. That rookie season was cut short by a horrific ankle injury. In a June 17 appearance on the NFL Network’s “The Insiders,” Skattebo said he is treating the injury like the freak accident it was and has no plans to change how he plays.
Skattebo said he was treating last year as a sort of redshirt season.
“Obviously I only got to play seven [full] games throughout my whole rookie year, and that was kind of hard for me. But I made the best of it, you know, got injured. And as soon as I got hurt, I made the best of trying to stay on the internet and keep people seeing me and [keep] the support coming in. And it’s been awesome. I still feel like I’ve got a lot to do, only in my rookie year,” he said. “So I’m just going to look at it, look at this year like it’s my first year again. I get to do it all over again and work as hard as I can to be the best on the field.”
Drafted by the Giants in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Skattebo formed a three-man backfield with veteran Devin Singletary and speedy Tyrone Tracy. He played in each of the first eight games of the season, and quickly became their lead back. He rushed 101 times for 410 yards and 5 touchdowns; he added 24 receptions for 207 yards and 2 TDs.
His success was due largely to his super-physical style of play. Skattebo regularly demonstrated exceptional contact balance while running through tackles, as well as the strength to drive his shoulder into a defender and bounce off or even run over a would-be tackler. Between Week 3 and Week 6, Skattebo racked up 251 yards after contact, second-most in the NFL at the time.
During the Giants’ Week 8 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, Skattebo went out for a pass in the middle of the field. The pass was broken up by Eagles linebacker Zack Baun, who also took him to the ground.
Skattebo landed awkwardly with his feet underneath Baun. He managed to get his right ankle out from under Baun, but it was twisted sideways. Trainers put his leg in an air cast and carted him off the field.
In an interview with live streamer N3on in November 2025, Skattebo explained that he suffered a broken fibula, a tear of one of the ligaments connecting his ankle bone to the leg, a full dislocation of the ankle, and a tear of one of the tendons in the ankle. He said that upon arriving at the hospital, the doctors told him that the injury was actually the best-case scenario.
Skattebo said Wednesday that the injury is part of the game, and won’t affect his play style.
“It isn’t going to change who I am,” he said. “I had an injury. It is what it is. I’ve still got plenty of football left, plenty of life left. I’m not going to let this little ankle thing bother me. I’m going to get back running people over like you see on the videos. It’s going to be normal Cam Skattebo from here on out.”
Skattebo missed OTAs because he was still rehabbing the ankle. But he was able to participate in mandatory minicamp and is on track to be ready for training camp and the season.
“With all the guys being out there, being able to watch them, seeing them grind together, I kind of hated that,” he said. “I wasn’t able to be a part of it, but it was good to see them be a part of that because I know when I come back, I’m going to come back and I’m going to be a part of a team that really likes each other and really cares about each other. So it’s been a grind, but it’s going to pay off for sure. [I’m] looking forward to that.”
