The New York Giants are releasing running back Najee Harris, Ian Rapoport reported on Tuesday, October 20. The move comes two days after Harris started the 34-27 loss to the New Orleans Saints and then questioned how the club was splitting carries among its backs.
Harris finished Sunday with four carries for two yards on 11 snaps. In five games for New York, including that one start, he ran 31 times for 99 yards. As a team, the Giants’ running backs managed 34 rushing yards against New Orleans, and Cam Skattebo did not get a carry a week after his overtime fumble at Washington.
“I’ve never been through none of this before”
After the game, Harris made clear he did not like the rotation. “It’s hard to get in a rhythm with one or two plays,” he said. “The first couple runs will be like, ‘OK, how are they playing it?’ And then the next ones will be, ‘OK, this is how you attack it.’ But if you’re getting a play here and then get taken out for a series, there’s nothing you could do. That’s why I’m saying, ‘I don’t know.’ I’ve never been through none of this before.”
Coach John Harbaugh did not disagree about the split. “You can say I don’t like that, I don’t like you divvying up the snaps between four backs,” Harbaugh said on Sunday. “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.”
Two days later, one of the four is gone. That leaves Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Devin Singletary in the backfield. Our story on Harbaugh’s postgame news conference has his comments on Skattebo, who he said was not benched.
From workhorse to free agent
Harris was the 24th pick of the 2021 draft and ran for at least 1,000 yards in each of his four seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He signed a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2025 but tore his Achilles tendon after three games. The Giants added him in August on a one-year, $1.215 million contract with no guaranteed money.
Harris, 28, is a vested veteran, so he will not have to go through waivers. A player released before the trade deadline, which is Tuesday, November 10, can sign with any club once the move is filed.
Jihad Ward is out too
The Giants also released linebacker Jihad Ward on Tuesday morning, Mike Garafolo reported. Ward returned to New York off the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad late last month and played 41 defensive snaps in two games, with one tackle.
Ward played 34 games for the Giants in 2022 and 2023 and knew Harbaugh from their time together with the Baltimore Ravens. He later spent time with the Vikings and the Tennessee Titans.
What comes next
The two moves leave the Giants with two open roster spots before Sunday’s game at the Houston Texans, which kicks off at 1 p.m. ET on October 25. New York is 3-2-1. Every move from Tuesday is in our Tuesday transactions roundup, and the Saints-Giants recap covers Sunday’s loss.
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