'I got punished': Giants' Cam Skattebo goes without a touch in loss to Saints, one week after critical OT fumble

Coming into Week 6, Cam Skattebo started every game for the New York Giants this season. But ahead of Sunday's game, reports started swirling that Najee Harris would take over as the team's starter due to Skattebo's fumbling issues.

Turns out, Harris wasn't the only member of the Giants to jump Skattebo on the depth chart. As the first half ended, Skattebo did not have a single touch against the New Orleans Saints.

He didn't get a touch in the second half either as the Giants lost 34-27 to the visiting New Orleans Saints.

"I got punished for what I did. I understand it, so I gotta be ready when coach calls my name and that wasn't today," Skattebo told The Athletic's Charlotte Carroll .

Three other Giant running backs were credited with a rushing attempt in the first quarter, a sign of what was in store for Skattebo on Sunday. In addition to Harris, who started the contest, Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Devin Singletary all got rushing attempts in the first quarter.

Skattebo saw the field during the half, though far less than usual. He played just six snaps, never touching the ball.

Head coach John Harbaugh insisted that it wasn't a benching of Skattebo, he told reporters postgame.

"We were trying to see who could make something happen, who could get a hot hand," Harbaugh said of his running backs. "Nobody has really taken the bull by the horns."

Coming into the game, Skattebo had four fumbles in five games. The running back had not lost a fumble until Week 5, when he gave the ball up in overtime against the Washington Commanders.

The turnover put Washington in position to win the game, but the Giants were bailed out after the Commanders allowed time to expire in overtime without a field-goal attempt, resulting in a tie.

Fumbling wasn't a major issue for Skattebo as a rookie. In 101 attempts last season, the running back was credited with just one fumble. This season, he has four in 81 attempts.