Giants’ Cam Skattebo hit with penalty after crushing Texans defender on routine run

New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo is known for being a bit of a loose cannon on the football field.

He runs hard and crashes into defenders left and right. On Sunday, NFL officials suggested he crossed a line while trying to truck over a Houston Texans player.

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New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo (44) leaps over Houston Texans safety M.J. Stewart (29) and is tackled by linebacker Henry To’oto’o during the first half of an NFL football game in Houston on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Skattebo took a handoff from quarterback J.J. McCarthy in the first quarter. Skattebo found a crease, lowered his helmet and ran over an opposing defender. The running back put his head down and collided with safety M.J. Stewart.

A flag was thrown on the play and Skattebo was called for unnecessary roughness because he lowered his helmet.

It’s really unclear what Skattebo was supposed to do in that situation. Helmet-to-helmet crashes happen in the NFL and usually a flag is thrown if the player on the receiving end of the damage is considered to be a defenseless player or a defender leads with their helmet when making a tackle – not the opposite. Even Giants head coach John Harbaugh seemed perplexed.

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New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo runs with the ball during the first quarter against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas, on Oct. 25, 2026. (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

The Giants and Texans were in a tight matchup in Week 7. The two teams were tied going into the half 14-14.

Skattebo had come under the microscope because he had no carries against the New Orleans Saints in Week 6. The Giants appeared to make some kind of point with Skattebo’s inaction. Harbaugh insisted last week he didn’t bench Skattebo.

“It wasn’t by design for him not to carry the ball,” Harbaugh said. “Just when he was in there, we didn’t call any runs. You’re not thinking about which back is in the game and how many runs they’re getting. It’s we were going to give them all an equal shot, give them a chance, see who got a hot hand maybe, see who could get going with it. We weren’t planning on being down by 24, that’s for sure.”

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New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo (44) during a Week 6 NFL football game between the Giants and the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. (USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)

Skattebo’s fumbles have been a cause for concern but probably not enough to warrant a benching. He was certainly back in the offense in Week 7.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.