Cam Skattebo Celebrates Comeback with Flipped Touchdown
This time around, Cam Skattebo successfully landed his flip. In his first regular-season game after a severe open tibia fracture and right ankle dislocation that cut his rookie season short, Skattebo displayed his iconic celebration following the Giants’ initial touchdown in their 28-20 victory over the Cowboys on Sunday at MetLife Stadium. He rushed for 81 yards on 18 carries and managed to recover his own fumble in the fourth quarter. His flip really captured his strong return to the Giants and his role as a key player in their rushing attack.
“I’ve been saying for probably a month now that when I score a touchdown, I’m gonna do a backflip,” Skattebo remarked. “That’s what everybody wanted. The fans wanted that. I knew I had to do it at least once. I might steer away from that now and focus on other things, but I’ll still be myself.”
On the other hand, Tyrone Tracy Jr.’s tough training camp and preseason continued to affect his performance — he fumbled on his second carry, did not see any more action, and observed as Devin Singletary excelled. Najee Harris, who has hit over 1,000 rushing yards four times in his career and was brought in during camp, was inactive for this game. Tracy’s mishap might lead to some changes next week.
The fumble wasn’t ideal, but overall, Skattebo seemed to play like his usual self. He started the second half with a solid 5-yard run, followed by a 7-yard gain, exemplifying his strengths in a run-heavy offense. A standout moment was when he made an impressive left cut and ran into the end zone without any defenders touching him.
Skattebo’s return happened more than 10 months after that serious injury in Philadelphia, which abruptly ended his promising rookie season. His recovery journey was tough; there were even moments early on when he considered retirement. His offseason took an unexpected turn at Fanatics Fest, where he attempted a backflip and tumbled after failing to land it properly.
After his touchdown flip, Skattebo acknowledged that sometimes he acts a bit “dumb” and hinted he might not try it again. “If you’re going to do it, at least land it,” head coach John Harbaugh joked after the game.
As Skattebo crossed into the end zone on Sunday, he couldn’t help himself and ended up on his feet. “He’s earned the right to go out there and be that dominant,” right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor commented. “He’s put in the hard work. … This is just the beginning for him.”
