Giants' Tyrone Tracy Jr., Devin Singletary move back up into top two RB spots
Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. runs with the ball during the first half of an NFL game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday in Philadelphia. Credit: AP/Chris Szagola
Usually when teams say “next man up,” it’s mostly hoping that the replacement can be solid after a starter gets hurt. As the Giants prepare to play their first game without Cam Skattebo, that hope is less concerning because of the presence of proven players.
Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Devin Singletary were their two leading running backs last season. Both started at least one game this season before Skattebo emerged. Now they’ll return to familiar roles after the rookie had season-ending ankle surgery.
Tracy led the Giants in rushing as a rookie last season and had more than 1,100 scrimmage yards. He has their longest run this season, a 31-yard touchdown at Denver. So what the team can expect to get from him is no mystery.
If anything, it’s almost similar timing to last season, when Tracy became the starter in Week 5 after Singletary suffered a groin injury.
“I think however the opportunity presents itself, you have to take advantage of it. No matter what it is,” Tracy said. “Just like last year when Motor [Singletary] got injured. It’s kind of the same thing. I’m going to go out there and do my job to the best of my ability.”
Tracy started two of the first three games this season before suffering a shoulder injury against Kansas City. Skattebo took over and became a jolt of energy.
Tracy continued to be a mentor, as he was during training camp. While it was difficult to lose his starting role, he leaned on his faith to get him through while also assisting Skattebo in any fashion.
“When Cam was starting, I was there to help him. I was there to guide him in whatever it was, like be his mentor,” Tracy said.
He added of Singletary: “The same thing Motor did for me last year. Motor was a great mentor to me last year, so I think that was kind of me giving back to Motor just the same way I was giving back to Skatt.”
Singletary started the Giants’ first four games last season and started in Week 2 this season in Dallas. He took a backseat once Tracy got going, but the seven-year veteran has known coach Brian Daboll’s offense since he was a rookie in Buffalo.
Both are speedier than Skattebo and are just as good catching the ball out of the backfield. For that reason, Singletary doesn’t think anything will change in the running game.
“We can still do whatever we want to do,” he said. “It ain’t all just putting us in a box because we all three can do everything.”
It’s a luxury the Giants have despite losing their talented rookie. Offensive coordinator Mike Kafka said that for every play, the team tries to build its system around the strengths of its players. And when it is players the coaches know very well such as Tracy and Singletary, it’s easier to adjust because of the familiarity.
“Whether it’s Tracy, whether it’s Motor, we go back and we say, we know who these players are,” Kafka said. “They’ve been with us now for a little while, so we understand what they’re good at, we understand where their strengths and weaknesses are, and so we try to put them in the best position to be successful.”
Tracy and Singletary can just be themselves, something the Giants already were comfortable with before the season.
Dart: NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month
Jaxson Dart got the first honor of his career by being named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month for October.
Dart was tops among rookies with 1,014 total yards (873 passing, 141 rushing) and 10 total touchdowns in his first full month as the Giants’ starting quarterback.
He was the only rookie quarterback to have at least two touchdowns in four games in October. He’s also the first Giants quarterback to win the award and first Giants player overall to win it since Odell Beckham Jr. in December 2014.
Blue notes
Cornerbacks Paulson Adebo (knee), Cor’Dale Flott (concussion) and Art Green (hamstring) didn’t practice for a second straight day Thursday. Neither did right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor (pectoral), tight end Daniel Bellinger (neck) and defensive lineman Chauncey Golston (neck). Safety Jevon Holland (knee) and receiver Beaux Collins (quadriceps) were limited participants for a second straight practice.
Evan Barnes covers the Giants for Newsday. He previously covered the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
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