# Giants release Najee Harris; Cam Skattebo trade talk remains speculation

New York’s official move was to terminate Harris’s contract. The NFL still lists Skattebo as a Giant, and trade proposals are not reports of negotiations or a deal.

By The Signal Edition | Sports / NFL
Published: 2026-10-21T22:15:39Z
Updated: 2026-10-22T04:35:38Z
Canonical: https://www.thesignaledition.com/article/giants-running-back-trade-skattebo-harris-vlzhsu
Image: https://www.thesignaledition.com/media/adda8e65db47aaca34332af7a9177ab1.jpg (Aerial view of MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, home of the New York Giants; credit: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0))

## Summary
- The Giants officially terminated veteran running back Najee Harris’s contract on Oct. 20.
- As of Oct. 22, the NFL lists Cam Skattebo as active on New York’s roster; no completed trade involving him is confirmed.
- Skattebo had zero carries in the Giants’ 34–27 loss to New Orleans on Oct. 18 after fumbling four times in five games, according to Reuters and earlier coverage.
- Published trade ideas involving Skattebo are proposals, not evidence of team negotiations.

## Harris release is confirmed; trade is not

The New York Giants released running back Najee Harris on Oct. 20, but the move did not amount to a trade of Cam Skattebo. The team’s roster announcement lists Harris among the veterans whose contracts were terminated, alongside linebacker Jihad Ward. The NFL’s current Giants roster continues to list Skattebo as an active player for New York. As of Oct. 22, no completed Skattebo trade is confirmed in the official team transaction record or in the independent reports reviewed. [1](https://www.giants.com/news/rb-najee-harris-olb-jihad-ward-released-among-series-of-roster-moves-trace-ford-active-roster-moves-week-7) [2](https://www.nfl.com/teams/new-york-giants/roster)

The release followed two days after Harris started in the Giants’ 34–27 loss to the New Orleans Saints. He carried four times for two yards and said afterward that it was difficult to find a rhythm when alternating in and out of the lineup. Reuters reported the release on Oct. 20; the team subsequently listed the move in its official transaction notice, confirming the roster change. [1](https://www.giants.com/news/rb-najee-harris-olb-jihad-ward-released-among-series-of-roster-moves-trace-ford-active-roster-moves-week-7) [3](https://www.reuters.com/sports/report-giants-releasing-rb-najee-harris-after-complaint-about-role--flm-2026-10-20/)

## Skattebo’s role shifted after fumbles

Skattebo had zero carries in the Saints game after a stretch in which he fumbled four times over five games, according to earlier reporting. Reuters reported that he led the Giants with 81 carries and 294 rushing yards through the first six games, though he did not receive a carry against New Orleans. The Giants’ current depth chart lists Skattebo and Tyrone Tracy Jr. among the running backs; the team has not announced that Skattebo is being traded. [3](https://www.reuters.com/sports/report-giants-releasing-rb-najee-harris-after-complaint-about-role--flm-2026-10-20/) [4](https://www.giants.com/team/depth-chart) [6](https://nypost.com/2026/10/18/sports/cam-skattebo-loses-starting-spot-to-najee-harris-in-giants-shakeup/)

Coach John Harbaugh criticized the team’s overall rushing production after the loss, saying the group had not been consistent or efficient enough. That assessment provides context for the changes in the backfield, but it is not an announcement of a trade. The official transaction list documents Harris’s release and other roster moves, while the NFL roster still identifies Skattebo with New York. [3](https://www.reuters.com/sports/report-giants-releasing-rb-najee-harris-after-complaint-about-role--flm-2026-10-20/) [1](https://www.giants.com/news/rb-najee-harris-olb-jihad-ward-released-among-series-of-roster-moves-trace-ford-active-roster-moves-week-7) [2](https://www.nfl.com/teams/new-york-giants/roster)

## Trade pitches are hypothetical

The trade conversation has been fueled by opinion pieces proposing possible deals, including a suggestion that the Giants send Skattebo to Buffalo. The piece labels the scenario a trade pitch; it does not report an agreement, an offer, or negotiations between the teams. Other columns have floated different destinations, but those suggestions likewise should not be read as confirmed team activity. [5](https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/giants-trade-pitch-sends-rb-152936666.html)

The distinction matters: a player’s reduced workload and a published mock trade can generate speculation without indicating that a club is shopping him. The verifiable updates as of Oct. 22 are that Harris is off the Giants’ roster and Skattebo remains listed as active in New York. Whether the Giants will make another backfield move in the future remains unknown; no such move has been reported as completed. [1](https://www.giants.com/news/rb-najee-harris-olb-jihad-ward-released-among-series-of-roster-moves-trace-ford-active-roster-moves-week-7) [2](https://www.nfl.com/teams/new-york-giants/roster) [5](https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/giants-trade-pitch-sends-rb-152936666.html)

## Reporting sources
1. [New York Giants: RB Najee Harris, OLB Jihad Ward released among series of roster moves](https://www.giants.com/news/rb-najee-harris-olb-jihad-ward-released-among-series-of-roster-moves-trace-ford-active-roster-moves-week-7) (2026-10-20)
2. [NFL.com: New York Giants 2026 Player Roster](https://www.nfl.com/teams/new-york-giants/roster) (2026-10-21)
3. [Reuters / Field Level Media: Report: Giants releasing RB Najee Harris after complaint about role](https://www.reuters.com/sports/report-giants-releasing-rb-najee-harris-after-complaint-about-role--flm-2026-10-20/) (2026-10-20)
4. [New York Giants: Giants Team Depth Chart](https://www.giants.com/team/depth-chart) (2026-10-21)
5. [Yahoo Sports (Heavy): Giants Trade Pitch Sends RB Cam Skattebo to Super Bowl Contender](https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/giants-trade-pitch-sends-rb-152936666.html) (2026-10-21)
6. [New York Post: Cam Skattebo loses starting spot to Najee Harris in Giants shakeup](https://nypost.com/2026/10/18/sports/cam-skattebo-loses-starting-spot-to-najee-harris-in-giants-shakeup/) (2026-10-18)