Former Arizona State star running back Cam Skattebo could suit up for the New York Giants' preseason finale, Thursday, Aug. 21, and is now more likely to play in Week 1.
The do-everything standout for last season's Big 12 champion Sun Devils was cleared to return to practice for the Giants on Tuesday, Aug. 19, Giants coach Brian Daboll told reporters, and reports indicate things are looking good.
Skattebo, whose nagging hamstring injury caused him to miss several practices and the Giants' first two preseason games, sits at No. 3 on the running back depth chart.
Skattebo was "on the field (Tuesday, Aug. 19) and was involved in team drills."
Cam Skattebo's status changes: New York Giants practice update
Skattebo's return to practice ahead of the team's preseason finale Thursday, Aug. 21, against the New England Patriots indicates he has a chance to start the season on time, Sept. 7 at the Washington Commanders.
He also could play in the preseason game that kicks off at 5 p.m. MST (8 p.m. Eastern).
The Skattebo health trending is looking up, according to a report after Tuesday practice from the Giants.
Art Stapleton, Giants beat writer for northjersey.com, said Skattebo "did more today in team drills than either Andrew Thomas or Malik Nabers. That's not a bad thing for AT or Nabers, just a good thing worth noting for Skattebo and the Giants."
Running backs Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Devin Singletary are listed ahead of Skattebo.
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Skattebo, a fourth-round pick by the Giants, has missed much of training camp.
Daboll indicated before the Aug. 19 practice that Skattebo's participation could be limited, but it was encouraging news nonetheless for a player expected to receive a healthy dose of touches this season.
The Giants will consider resting Skattebo for their final preseason game, Thursday, Aug. 21, at home against the New England Patriots but Stapleton, during his podcast published Wednesday morning, Aug. 20, said, "It would not shock me to see him make a cameo" in the preseason finale.
"I'm not talking a full load, but maybe a couple snaps," Stapleton said. "... He was running yesterday and it did not look like he was encumbered in any way."
There had been concerns that Skattebo's hamstring issue could result in him being placed on injured reserve after final roster cutdowns on Aug. 26. Such a move would require Skattebo to miss the first four weeks of the regular season.
Placing him on IR before the squad is trimmed to 53 would force him to miss the entire 2025 season.
That concern has been dramatically altered, however, with the news that Skattebo returned to practice and reportedly performed well.
Skattebo set the Arizona State single-season record last year with 1,711 yards. He also scored 21 touchdowns, became the first player in school history to amass 2,000 or more yards from scrimmage in a single season and finished fifth in balloting for the Heisman Trophy.
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