New York Giants rookie running back Cam Skattebo suffered a dislocated ankle in Sunday’s 38-20 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Skattebo underwent surgery Sunday night in Philadelphia but there is not yet a timeline for his recovery. Giants coach Brian Daboll told reporters that “all went well (with surgery); he’s recovering and obviously he’ll be missed. But, on the road to recovery.”
The Giants released a statement on Monday night: Cam Skattebo underwent successful surgery on his dislocated ankle last night at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital Presbyterian campus. He has been discharged from the hospital and will begin rehab immediately.
Skattebo was carted off the field with an air cast on his left leg with 8:07 left in the first half after he was rolled up on during a tackle. Prior to his exit, Skattebo handled three carries for 12 yards and caught an 18-yard touchdown pass.
This is a devastating blow to what has been a remarkable debut season for Skattebo. The Arizona State product was a source of excitement for the Giants’ future, along with fellow first-year standout Jaxson Dart, who formed the other half of a prolific backfield after winning the starting quarterback job.
“He’s irreplaceable,” Giants right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor told reporters postgame. “You can have guys that run the ball really hard, but his energy and what he brings to the table and the way he runs the ball, it’s going to be hard to replace. I just pray that he gets healthy and comes back even better next year.”
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Skattebo was taken to a Philadelphia-area hospital during the game and was scheduled to undergo surgery Sunday night rather than return home with the team.
“I was devastated,” rookie quarterback and good friend Jaxson Dart said. “That’s my boy. Seeing him go down and reacting to what happened, it sucks. It’s the worst part of this game.”
Tyrone Tracy Jr. is the next man up in the backfield and figures to return to the starting role he held at the beginning of the year, so long as Skattebo is on the shelf.
Skattebo racked up 398 yards rushing and five touchdowns, along with 189 yards receiving and a score, across the first seven games of his career. He jumped into the starting lineup three weeks into the campaign and had been one of the Giants’ top weapons ever since. His three-touchdown game against the Eagles on Oct. 9 was an early high point of what looks destined to be a prolific career.
Skattebo was in the running for the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award but will undoubtedly fall out of the race now. He entered Week 8 with the seventh-best odds to win the honor, per FanDuel, at +3000.
The outstanding debut campaign is part of an overall terrific year for NFL rookies. Skattebo led all rookies with 587 scrimmage yards through seven games and was one of three rookies to hit the 500-yard mark. Only one first-year player hit that threshold through seven weeks last season, in contrast.
Skattebo looks like one of the biggest steals of the 2025 NFL Draft. He came off the board in the fourth round but outperformed every other rookie skill position player in total yardage prior to his injury. All-purpose stardom is nothing new for Skattebo, though. He made a late push last season for the Heisman Trophy at Arizona State and finished fifth in the award voting, and that came two years after he shined at Sacramento State as an FCS All-American.
Eagles star running back Saquon Barkley, a former Giant, also weighed in on the injury. Barkley suffered his share of injuries during his time in New York.
“From everything I’ve heard, the type of person he is and how he comes to work through adversity and the mindset he has that got him to this point is going to help him get through it,” Barkley, who tore his ACL playing for the Giants in 2020, said. “He’s a heck of a back. You could see just how the stadium felt because of the energy he brought. I know those [trainers] over there really well, and they helped me get back from my knee injury, so he’s in great hands.”
