Cam Skattebo faced an uphill battle to get back in New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh's good graces.

The fan favorite power back slid down the depth chart after a Week 5 overtime fumble cost the Giants a chance at a key win over the Washington Commanders (the game ended in a tie because the Commanders could not let that doofusery outshine their own). He played only six snaps in Week 6's loss to the New Orleans Saints, failing to record a single touch or target. That put his status for Week 7's game against a struggling Houston Texans defense in question.

But Skattebo took the early lead in touches for New York. In the first quarter, he put his gritty style on full display for a seven-yard gain that looked like the beginning to a promising drive. But, because Cam Skattebo wants nothing more than to confront danger with his face, he managed to get flagged for unnecessary roughness despite being the guy with the ball.

Skattebo's run ended in a 13-yard penalty -- half the distance from the goal -- for lowering his helmet and hitting a Texans defender with its crown on a helmet-to-helmet hit. It's a flag we're used to seeing for defenders leading with their heads, but far less often for runners. It's also a brutal shift for a back like Skattebo, who is a throwback, head-down, run-through-your-problems player who might have the hammer taken from his NFL toolbox.

Fortunately for Skattebo, it didn't affect Harbaugh's faith in him. He got the ball three plays later, then opened up the next two Giants drives with carries.