Evan Barnes: Giants' Cam Skattebo needs to smarten up and cut out the unnecessary off-the-field stunts

The Giants are counting down the days until training camp in West Virginia begins on Wednesday. They’re also hoping no more serious news breaks before then after Cam Skattebo’s latest incident.

The second-year running back fell when he attempted a backflip at Fanatics Fest last weekend. He popped up fine, but after his gruesome ankle injury last year, fans either gasped or rolled their eyes at how ridiculous it looked.

I can’t even imagine John Harbaughs reaction to seeing this LOL pic.twitter.com/hCfiCvwCxV

— WyattzWorld (@WyattzWorId) July 18, 2026

“I’m perfectly fine. Nothing happened. We’re good,” Skattebo said later at Fanatics Fest.

Skattebo’s wild, reckless energy is great when he’s on the field or entertaining fans, but it’s troubling off it. He needs to make smarter decisions.

Sure, he’s enjoyed riding the wave of his rookie success, but maintaining that wave means being mindful of the responsibility that comes with stardom and expectations.

The good news is that Skattebo should be cleared for practice when camp begins at The Greenbrier Resort. Coach John Harbaugh often has said that was the goal, and nothing has changed that.

Harbaugh also took Skattebo’s fall in stride, at least publicly.

“My reaction was this: Dude, at least stick it,” Harbaugh told the “Bleav in Giants” podcast this week. “I mean, land the thing if you’re going to do it, you know?”

It’s not the first time Skattebo has attempted a backflip this offseason. He did so on May 30 at Brian Burns’ charity softball game. He landed that one cleanly, and videos were shared on social media without any problem.

A welcome sight. Cam Skattebo lightly jogging after a big home run and bat flip. And the return of the back flip! That was unexpected. pic.twitter.com/0GaKLi3Kfe

— Evan Barnes (@evan_b) May 30, 2026

At the time, it was a sign that his ankle was healing. Nearly two months later, his ankle should be much stronger. So should his judgment.

The old rule is that just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should. It’s fine that Skattebo was confident enough to try the backflip, but it became foolish when he landed awkwardly.

Unfortunately, Skattebo’s fearlessness crashing into opponents is matched by his recklessness off the field.

Earlier this spring, while on a podcast, he dismissed CTE and asthma as not real. That’s the same CTE, or chronic traumatic encephalopathy, that has been found in the brain tissue of hundreds of football players after they died. Skattebo apologized soon after.

The failed backflip is moment No. 2 when he needs to realize that his actions and words merit responsibility.

It’s one thing being at a WWE event last year in which he was shoving wrestlers in a scripted fight. It’s another to fall in public and have fans and Giants brass holding their breath. The risk isn’t worth it. Self-preservation matters more than entertainment.

In one year, Skattebo has become a mini-cult hero. He hosted a well-attended football camp in Mineola. Kids love him. Fans dig him. His brash tone was endearing at the Giants’ town hall this spring.

It just has to pay off on the field. And the truth is Skattebo hasn’t proved himself enough to risk squandering his good will.

In eight games, including five starts, his 4.06 yards per carry ranked 36th in the league. He had only one run go for more than 20 yards.

Yes, he had seven total touchdowns and 617 scrimmage yards before he got hurt, but his bruising style and desire to bulldoze defenders doesn’t bode well for a long career. It doesn’t mean he won’t last 10 years, but a running style built on power isn’t built to last long in today’s NFL.

Skattebo may love being a maniac and hate being called “brain-dead,” as he said at Fanatics Fest, but he can’t say foolish things and expect people to trust that he can rein that side in.

“It is what it is. I mean, the New York people love it, so I’m just gonna keep being me,” Skattebo told the crowd. “And if they wanna say I’m brain-dead and I don’t have no brain, then who cares? [Expletive] it, you know?”

Those aren’t words that should be said by a key player, let alone a potential starter. It doesn’t inspire the confidence that Skattebo will be wiser, and he needs to be with Harbaugh in charge.

Fortunately, training camp will shift Skattebo’s focus back to football. After this latest situation, he needs to resume making headlines for his play and personality, not his poor decision-making.