Giants Release Najee Harris After Saints Loss

The New York Giants have released running back Najee Harris after a disappointing performance against the New Orleans Saints and growing frustration over the team's four-player rotation. The move, confirmed by a team source on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, leaves Cam Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Devin Singletary as the team's remaining running backs ahead of its Week 7 matchup with the Houston Texans.

Harris, 28, recorded just two yards on four carries in Sunday's 34-27 loss to New Orleans, according to reports from Big Blue View and Bleacher Report. He finished his Giants tenure with 99 rushing yards on 31 attempts, averaging 3.2 yards per carry.

The Giants had signed Harris to a one-year contract in August to strengthen their backfield depth. His release follows a season in which he struggled to secure a consistent workload, never reaching 10 carries in a single game, despite recording a season-high 52 rushing yards in a Week 3 victory over the Tennessee Titans.

Harris previously recorded four consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons during his first four NFL campaigns with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He joined the Giants after tearing his Achilles tendon early in the 2025 season while playing for the Los Angeles Chargers.

Harris had expressed frustration with the Giants' decision to distribute playing time among four running backs, saying the rotation prevented him from finding a rhythm. Head coach John Harbaugh acknowledged the concern but challenged the team's running backs to establish themselves as the leading option.

Harbaugh said after Sunday's game that the coaching staff had not intentionally reduced Skattebo's role. The rookie received only six snaps against New Orleans and did not record a carry.

Explaining the coaching staff's approach, Harbaugh said, "We didn't bench Cam Skattebo. It was not by design. All those guys were taking equal reps the first half.

We were trying to see who could make something happen, who could get a hot hand and earn it. Nobody's really taken the bull by the horns. You can say I don't like that, I don't like you divvying up the snaps between four backs.

I can tell you I don't like it, either. One of those guys needs to step up. Someone needs to step up and be the back.

And none of those guys has done that yet."

The coach's comments highlighted the team's continuing difficulty in identifying a dependable lead runner. Harris's departure reduces the rotation from four players to three, although the Giants have not announced any corresponding roster moves to replace him on the 53-man roster.

New York managed 84 rushing yards against the Saints, with backup quarterback J.J. McCarthy leading the team in rushing with 26 yards on two carries. Tracy recorded a team-high six carries for 18 yards and scored the Giants' only rushing touchdown, while also catching a touchdown pass. Singletary added 14 yards on four carries.

Harris's release leaves the Giants with decisions to make about their backfield workload before facing the Houston Texans in Week 7. Harbaugh's stated expectation remains that one of the remaining running backs must distinguish himself to earn the primary role.