New York Giants Slammed With Bad News Before Eagles Game

The New York Giants are preparing to face the Philadelphia Eagles for the first time this season on Sunday, and it certainly isn't your typical weighty NFC East clash.

The Eagles have lost six games in a row and are in full free-fall mode with Jalen Hurts out for the season. Running back Saquon Barkley and wide receiver DeVonta Smith are injured and could miss Sunday's matchup, as well.

Not that the Giants are faring much better health-wise.

Jaxson Dart, Brian Burns and Tremaine Edmunds are all out for the year, and New York has some other nicks and bruises, as well.

Then there's running back Cam Skattebo, who injured his hamstring during the Giants' Week 7 win over the Houston Texans (a game in which he racked up 124 yards and a touchdown) and apparently did not heal up during the bye week.

Skattebo has not practiced heading into Friday, and Dan Duggan of The Athletic does not appear all that optimistic the second-year playmaker will be on the field in Philadelphia.

While Duggan isn't exactly sure of the extent of Skattebo's injury (John Harbaugh keeps those things close to the vest), he noted on X that he thinks it's more than just a "typical bump and bruise."

New York is already without Tyrone Tracy, who is on injured reserve. It also released Najee Harris after his prickly postgame comments following Week 6. If Skattebo is unable to go this weekend, that will leave Devin Singletary as the Giants' only dependable halfback.

Big Blue also has undrafted rookie Greg Desrosiers Jr., who would step in as the primary backup in the event that Skattebo is sidelined ... which is looking more and more likely.

The Giants are sitting atop the NFC East at 4-2-1 and have a Thursday night matchup with the Washington Commanders on tap right after facing the Eagles, so this Sunday isn't exactly a safe landing zone for Skattebo.

The last thing New York needs is for Skattebo to further aggravate his injury and be knocked out for an even longer period of time, so resting him might be the best idea. But that doesn't make things any easier for the Giants.

Should New York beat Philly regardless? Probably, but the Giants haven't won in Philadelphia since October 2013, and don't think for a second the Eagles wouldn't take significant pleasure in playing spoiler to the G-Men.

Skattebo potentially being absent this Sunday would be for the greater good over the long haul, but it would still sting.