Cam Skattebo shows progress at Giants minicamp, inching toward a possible July return

Cam Skattebo’s comeback moved from rehab headlines to visible practice participation on Monday, the first day of the New York Giants’ mandatory minicamp. The running back, whose 2025 season ended after a catastrophic right ankle injury, took another step forward as coaches looked toward the possibility of him being available by training camp in late July.

According to reporting from the team’s minicamp facility in East Rutherford, Skattebo worked during individual segments, handling handoffs and running routes, then catching passes as well. That kind of all-around involvement matters because it is not limited to stationary conditioning or straight-line work, it reflects a return to football tasks that require planting, acceleration, and change of direction.

Skattebo’s injury was severe and uncommon in how quickly it derailed a season. On October 26, he suffered an open dislocation of his right ankle, according to the reporting, along with a tibia fracture and a ruptured deltoid ligament. Emergency surgery followed later that night in Philadelphia. The Giants have since held out hope for a summer timeline, and Monday’s participation was framed as the clearest sign yet that the plan may be taking shape.

The Giants’ personnel calculus also gives the moment extra weight. Skattebo was the most intriguing young back on the roster entering his rookie campaign, and his early production created a baseline for what the team could build around if his health cooperates. The reporting notes that his rookie season ended after 10 games, when he rushed for 410 yards and scored five touchdowns.

Giants head coach John Harbaugh addressed the day’s practice in comments relayed by the same reporting. He said Skattebo had discussed the plan with the coaching staff and trainers, specifically that he would take part in group work and team periods, and Harbaugh joked that everyone should not expect backflips. That distinction, group and team periods rather than limited on-field reps, is often the difference between “working” and “being evaluated,” even when coaches still monitor a player closely.

The broader minicamp session also featured other health watch items, though the most immediate concern mentioned was unrelated to Skattebo. The reporting included an incident in which edge rusher Abdul Carter limped off after practice and Harbaugh described it as looking like an ankle twist that did not appear serious. While not tied to Skattebo’s recovery, it underlines how quickly Monday’s work turned into an evaluation day for multiple players.

For the Giants, the next checkpoint is not simply whether Skattebo can run drills, but whether he can sustain them. Recovery timelines for severe ankle injuries vary widely, and even when a player appears ready, teams generally watch for discomfort after work, how the player responds to live contact situations, and whether he can repeat the same mechanics day after day. The team’s July training-camp window will be the most important “go or no-go” marker if Monday’s step proves consistent.