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The Philadelphia Eagles could catch a significant break ahead of Sunday's NFC East matchup against the New York Giants, who are unlikely to have their leading rusher available at Lincoln Financial Field.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Giants have listed running back Cam Skattebo as doubtful for Sunday's game because of a hamstring injury. The second-year running back has been unable to practice this week despite New York coming off its bye.
Skattebo leads the Giants with 418 rushing yards on 98 carries, averaging 4.3 yards per attempt with two touchdowns. His physical running style has helped establish an offensive identity for a New York team that enters Week 9 atop the NFC East at 4-2-1.
The injury is particularly concerning because the Giants are already without fellow running back Tyrone Tracy Jr., who was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury suffered during New York's most recent game.
Skattebo has emerged as the centerpiece of New York's rushing attack in his second NFL season. The former Arizona State standout has accounted for the majority of the Giants' production on the ground and provides a physical presence that complements quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
In New York's most recent game, an overtime victory against the Houston Texans on Oct. 25, Skattebo rushed for a career-high 124 yards before aggravating his hamstring. The injury remained an issue during the Giants' bye week, and he couldn't return to practice as the team prepared for Philadelphia.
His potential absence would force head coach John Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Matt Nagy to adjust their offensive approach against an Eagles defense that has struggled with consistency throughout the season.
The Giants have relied on their rushing attack to create favorable situations for McCarthy, who is preparing for his second start since arriving from Minnesota. Losing Skattebo would put additional responsibility on the quarterback and New York's remaining offensive playmakers.
Veteran running back Devin Singletary is positioned to handle an increased workload if Skattebo cannot play. Singletary has extensive NFL experience and provides New York with a dependable option as a runner and receiver.
The Giants also have rookie Gregory Desrosiers on their active roster, while Eric Gray and Phil Mafah provide additional practice-squad depth.
Singletary scored on a 30-yard touchdown run against Houston, showing New York can still generate explosive plays without relying exclusively on Skattebo.
However, replacing the production of two injured running backs presents a significant challenge, particularly against a Philadelphia defensive front featuring Jordan Davis, Jalen Carter and Moro Ojomo.
Philadelphia enters Sunday at 2-6, riding a six-game losing streak and searching for answers on both sides of the football. The Eagles have struggled to stop opponents from controlling games with their rushing attacks, making Skattebo's potential absence an important development. Without New York's leading rusher, Philadelphia could have more opportunities to force McCarthy into obvious passing situations and generate pressure with Jonathan Greenard and Jalyx Hunt.
The Giants will still have offensive weapons, including Malik Nabers, but losing Skattebo would remove one of their most dependable options for controlling the tempo and sustaining drives.
The Eagles and Giants will kick off Sunday at 1 p.m. ET at Lincoln Financial Field, with New York attempting to strengthen its NFC East lead and Philadelphia looking to end its six-game losing streak.