The New York Giants released running back Najee Harris this Tuesday, October 20, two days after he started against the New Orleans Saints. The move reduces the options in the ground game but leaves open the question of who will take the lead role at a position without an established starter.
Harris had four carries for just two yards in New York’s 34-27 loss to the Saints. It was his first start of the season and turned out to be his final appearance with the team, for which he totaled 99 rushing yards.
After that game, the veteran expressed dissatisfaction with the four-back rotation. He explained that getting one or two opportunities and then coming off the field for a series made it difficult to find a rhythm, recognize how the defense was playing him and adjust his approach.
Coach John Harbaugh took a different view: a heavier workload had to be earned through production. After the game, he said he had distributed opportunities to find someone who could deliver, but none of the running backs had managed to claim the job.
Without Harris, Cam Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Devin Singletary remain as options. Skattebo had opened the season as the top option, though his involvement was reduced after four fumbles. He did not record a single carry against New Orleans, while the other three running backs all carried the ball.
Harris’s departure also does not automatically mean a new starter has been named. Harbaugh has stressed that he is looking for a player who earns a heavier workload; the competition now continues with one fewer member and a need to improve the ground game’s production.
Image: Najee Harris with the Steelers against Cleveland, October 31, 2021. File photo: Erik Drost / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.
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