The Giants signed running back Jonathan Ward on Monday, following rookie Cam Skattebo’s hamstring injury during training camp on Friday.
Ward boasts only 91 rushing yards in his five seasons in the league, including 22 on five carries in four games with the Pittsburgh Steelers last year. The former Central Michigan halfback, who went undrafted, could serve as the team’s third back if Skattebo is forced to miss extended time.
Skattebo, when healthy, is expected to receive extensive playing time for New York, which finished in the bottom 10 in rushing yards last season. He posted 1,711 rushing yards with Arizona State last year and led it to the College Football Playoff for the first time. The Sun Devils fell to Texas despite Skattebo posting 143 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, along with a passing score.
The 23-year-old is expected to work next to halfback Tyrone Tracy Jr., who is preparing for his second pro season.
“Tracy has made strides … there’s usually a big jump from year one to year two,” coach Brian Daboll said. “Time will tell when we’re on the field and the games count, but his preparation habits, his professionalism, understanding what he needs to do out there, blitz pickup, run reads, route technique, he’s improved.”
Tracy posted 1,123 total yards and six total touchdowns as a rookie last season. The majority of those numbers came in the second half of the year as Tracy notched only 12 carries in the first four weeks.
With what’s expected to be an improved offense with 36-year-old Russell Wilson at the helm, expectations are high for Tracy’s second-year campaign.
“[Wilson’s] provided leadership to our football team in various ways, not just in the quarterback room, but meeting extra with the entire offense, how he communicates with defensive players, the experience that he’s had throughout his career,” Daboll said. “He’s been productive and made good decisions at that position here in our offense.”
Another veteran on the offense is running back Devin Singletary. The former Buffalo Bill and Houston Texan recorded 556 total yards and four touchdowns last season — his first year with Big Blue after signing a 3-year, $16.5 million contract in March of 2024.
Singletary’s decrease in playing time would likely continue from the end of last season if all goes to plan for the Giants, who carry high hopes for the Skattebo-Tracy duo. But that assumes both stay healthy, which could be problematic at one of the league’s most enduring positions.
