The New York Giants are placing Tyrone Tracy Jr. on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, leaving their backfield without one of its options when the team returns from its bye.
General manager Joe Schoen announced the decision to reporters Tuesday. The move means Tracy’s absence will extend beyond the upcoming break.
Tracy hurt his hamstring during the first half of Sunday’s 27-21 overtime victory over the Houston Texans. Cam Skattebo also experienced hamstring discomfort late in that game, although the subsequent reporting on his outlook has been more encouraging.
The distinction matters for New York: Tracy is headed for an extended absence, while Skattebo has not been reported to need the same move.
When could Tyrone Tracy return to the Giants?
Players returning from injured reserve must sit out at least four games. A bye does not replace one of those games.
Based on the Giants’ schedule, a placement before their next game would rule Tracy out against the Philadelphia Eagles on Nov. 8, Washington Commanders on Nov. 12, Jacksonville Jaguars on Nov. 22 and Indianapolis Colts on Nov. 29.
That makes the Dec. 6 home game against the San Francisco 49ers his earliest possible return. It is an eligibility date, not a prediction that his hamstring will be ready or that the Giants will activate him then.
New York therefore must prepare to play its entire November schedule without Tracy. The first two games after the bye are against division opponents, with the Washington matchup coming just four days after the trip to Philadelphia.
Cam Skattebo’s outlook leaves Giants with a separate question
Early indications are that Skattebo should be OK, and he will have the benefit of the upcoming bye. This offers a more favorable outlook than Tracy’s IR news, but it is not a formal clearance for the Philadelphia game.
Skattebo explained after Sunday’s game that he felt something in his hamstring and slid with the Giants already in field-goal range, according to ESPN’s Dan Graziano.
“Good thing we have a bye week,” Skattebo said.
Devin Singletary finished the drive with the winning touchdown. Skattebo’s overtime run set up Singletary’s finish after Tracy had already left the game.
Singletary gives the Giants another option as they plan around Tracy’s absence. How much work he receives will depend in part on Skattebo’s availability; the reports do not establish a new division of carries.
For now, the Giants have a firm reason to adjust their November backfield plans and a separate recovery to monitor during the bye.
