The scene at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday afternoon was a grim one for the New York Giants, and not just because of the scoreboard.

During the second quarter of the Giants' 38-20 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, running back Cam Skattebo suffered one of the most gruesome ankle injuries you will ever see, and injury so gnarly that players on both teams immediately turn their heads at the sight of it.

You didn't need to hear any diagnosis to know that Skattebo was done for the season, completely eliminating any chance New York had at making some sort of second-half run this year.

Now, Jaxson Dart is down his two top weapons in Skattebo and Malik Nabers, the latter of whom tore his ACL during Dart's debut as a starter back in Week 4.

But the Giants didn't just lose a top playmaker for the season: they lost the heart and soul of their football team and the juice behind the sudden excitement that has enveloped the Big Apple.

Of course, Dart is the primary reason for the hope surrounding Big Blue going forward, but all along, it has seemed like the two rookies were a package deal. Look no further than Dart's devastated, visceral reaction to Skattebo's misfortune when it occurred.

The wildest part? Skattebo himself didn't even appear to be in agony. He merely pointed down to his ankle, and was then seen attempting to fire up his teammates as he lay on a cart about to be taken off the field. Just truly incredible stuff.

Skattebo is an incredibly skilled player. We saw that at Arizona State, and we saw it in his first eight games as a Giant. But he isn't just a talented running back; he is an incredible leader.

The energy that the 23-year-old brings to the table is palpable. Both teams can feel it. You even heard New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis talking about while mic'd up when the Giants were facing the Saints back in Week 5. Skattebo inspires the team.

Just a look at how all of the air went out from the G-Men the second Skattebo went down on Sunday. It was actually a close game at the time. But his exit, especially under those circumstances, served as a precursor to a rout.

Skattebo will hopefully be fine heading into next season. Not just because the Giants need him to plow through defenders and score touchdowns, but also because they simply crave his presence.

New York has more than just a halfback here. It's just a shame we won't get to see him on the field again until next fall.