PHILADELPHIA (AP) — In a heartbreaking moment during the Giants' recent game against the Philadelphia Eagles, rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart rushed to support his teammate, Cam Skattebo, as the standout running back was carted off the field following a severe ankle injury. Dart’s instinctive headbutt to Skattebo served as a bonding moment for the two rookies, especially knowing that this could be their last game together for the foreseeable future.
Skattebo suffered a dislocated right ankle early in the Giants’ 38-20 defeat to the Eagles, which could potentially sideline him for the remainder of the season. The Giants announced that Skattebo would undergo surgery on Sunday night at a local hospital, a move that underscores the seriousness of his injury.
“That’s my boy, man,” Dart expressed, visibly shaken. “That sucks. It’s just the worst part of the game.” Skattebo’s injury occurred during a second-quarter play when he took a hard hit while attempting to catch a pass. He immediately displayed his pain by striking his helmet, and his foot was notably bent at an unnatural angle as players from both teams gathered around him until he could be assisted off the field.
The 23-year-old Skattebo, who was drafted in the fourth round out of Arizona State in the 2025 NFL Draft, was seen with an air cast on his lower right leg as he was driven off the field. Despite the grim situation, he managed to raise his right arm to acknowledge the applause from the Eagles' crowd, demonstrating his resilience.
“I feel absolutely terrible for the young man,” Giants head coach Brian Daboll said, expressing his sympathy. “It looked bad. You feel for anybody that goes down with a serious injury. I know the players feel the same way about Skatt.” Skattebo was New York's leading rusher this season, stepping up after teammate Tyrone Tracy Jr. suffered an early-season injury. Earlier in the month, Skattebo had a remarkable performance against the Eagles, scoring three rushing touchdowns and catching an 18-yard touchdown pass from Dart in their previous encounter.
“Hopefully, it’s one of those situations where it’s just a clean break that’s easier to recover from,” Giants offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor added, trying to provide some hope regarding Skattebo's condition. The gruesome sight of Skattebo’s bent ankle was distressing for many of his teammates, with Dart visibly frustrated, kneeling down and burying his head in his hands.
“With him being carted off, it’s emotional,” Dart reflected. “You just try and go back to the huddle and reload.” The Giants’ loss to the Eagles marked their fall to a 2-6 record, following a previous week where they made NFL history by becoming the first team in over two decades to lose after leading by 18 points or more in the final six minutes, as they did against the Denver Broncos.
Despite the recent setbacks, Dart and Skattebo had injected a sense of optimism into the Giants organization. Just two weeks prior, during a Thursday night game at the Meadowlands, Skattebo had an outstanding performance, rushing for three touchdowns, while Dart contributed with one rushing and one passing touchdown, leading the Giants to a 34-17 victory over the Eagles.
Prior to the injury, Skattebo had accumulated 398 rushing yards and five touchdowns this season. His injury adds to the list of challenges faced by the Giants, who also lost top wide receiver Malik Nabers to a torn ACL last month. In the game against the Eagles, Dart completed 14 of 24 passes for 193 yards and one touchdown, but no other receiver or running back exceeded 50 yards in production.
As the Giants had a full week to reflect on their previous game against the Broncos, where they squandered a 26-8 lead only to lose 33-32 on a last-minute field goal, the emotional toll of Skattebo's injury compounded the disappointment of the loss against their NFC East rival. “It’s frustrating because I felt confident coming into this game,” Dart remarked. “I was obviously extra motivated because of how things unfolded last week. I really didn’t want one loss to lead to another.”
