After spending Week 6 on the bench due to fumbling issues, Cam Skattebo was back on the field for the New York Giants on Sunday.
He returned with a vengeance.
The second-year running back who’s made a name for himself with his physical and frequently reckless running style returned to his role as New York’s starting running back against the Houston Texans. It took him less that one quarter to draw the attention of game officials.
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On New York’s second possession, Skattebo took a handoff from J.J. McCarthy on the first play of the drive. He drove through a hole, lowered his head and ran through Texans safety M.J. Stewart.
The run left Stewart reeling on the ground and appeared to secure a seven-yard gain for New York. But a flag was thrown.
Skattebo got penalized 15 yards for unnecessary roughness for lowering his helmet. He ran to the sideline after the play, visibly furious with the call.
Giants head coach John Harbaugh was likewise upset, but not with his running back. He gave officials an earful for the call. Should it have been a penalty?
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Skattebo’s run is one that’s been celebrated throughout most of the history of tackle football. It’s also the type of play that’s led to they type of serious injury the NFL has desperately tried to legislate out of the game in recent seasons.
We’ve all seen plays where an offensive player lowers his head recklessly and gets injured only for a defender to be penalized for what looks like a clean tackle. In this instance, nobody got injured, but officials held Skattebo accountable for his own safety and decision to lower his helmet into a defender.
