In a crushing turn of events for one of the NFL’s most exciting breakout rookies, New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo suffered a severe dislocated right ankle during the team’s Week 8 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.

The injury, which occurred midway through the second quarter, has effectively ended his remarkable 2025 rookie season.

The Incident and Immediate Aftermath

The injury occurred with 8:07 remaining in the second quarter. Skattebo was targeted on a short pass over the middle of the field.

As he was being tackled, his right leg was caught underneath an Eagles player, causing his ankle to twist in a visibly unnatural and distressing direction.

The reaction from players on both sidelines was immediate and visceral, confirming the severity of the injury.⁶ Skattebo immediately smacked his helmet in pain as trainers rushed onto the field.

Medical staff placed his lower right leg in an air cast before he was loaded onto a cart and driven off the field.

The crowd at Lincoln Financial Field offered a rare, respectful ovation as the young player was taken to a local hospital for further evaluation.

Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart, a fellow 2025 draftee with a close bond to Skattebo, was visibly distraught, taking a knee and burying his head in his hands after seeing his teammate carted away.

Head Coach Brian Daboll summed up the team’s sentiment post-game, stating, “I feel absolutely terrible for the young man. Obviously, saw it looked bad. I know you feel for anybody on your team that goes down and has a really bad injury.”

Official Diagnosis and Outlook

The New York Giants officially confirmed that Skattebo suffered a dislocated right ankle. The team announced that the rookie was scheduled to undergo surgery at a local Philadelphia-area hospital late Sunday night or early Monday morning.

Severity: Ankle dislocations, especially those sustained during high-velocity sports, frequently involve ligament tears and sometimes bone fractures (a fracture-dislocation), which significantly complicate the recovery process.
Recovery Timeline: While the exact prognosis depends on the surgical findings (e.g., the extent of ligament and bone damage), sports medicine experts and analysts suggest this is a definitive season-ending injury. Recovery for severe ankle dislocations often requires 9 to 12 months of rehabilitation, putting his return for the start of the 2026 NFL season in question, depending on how aggressively the team proceeds.

A Crushing End to a Breakout Season

The injury halts a spectacular and unexpected rookie campaign for Skattebo, a fourth-round pick (105th overall) out of Arizona State. Before the injury, he was leading all NFL rookies in yards from scrimmage and touchdowns.

Rookie Production: Entering Week 8, Skattebo had accumulated 398 rushing yards with five rushing touchdowns, plus 23 receptions for 189 yards and one receiving score.
Impact: He had been a rare bright spot and dual-threat weapon for the struggling Giants offense, including a memorable three-touchdown performance against the Eagles just two weeks prior.²⁰ He even contributed immediately in Sunday’s game with an 18-yard touchdown reception before exiting.

Giants’ Backfield Moving Forward

Skattebo’s absence is a significant blow to the Giants’ offense, which already lost star wide receiver Malik Nabers to an ACL tear earlier this season.

The team will now rely heavily on a combination of Tyrone Tracy Jr. and veteran Devin Singletary to fill the void in the backfield. Both players will be tasked with providing the stability and playmaking ability that the rookie had delivered through the first half of the season.

The loss may also force the team to lean more on its passing attack, placing greater pressure on the development of quarterback Jaxson Dart.