New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo has drawn sharp criticism after attempting a standing backflip during his entrance at Fanatics Fest. The stunt caught the attention of Quincy Avery, the private quarterback coach for Deshaun Watson, who reshared a video of the incident on X and criticized the running back's decision.
"What an idiot," Avery wrote on Sunday, highlighting the concerns surrounding the risky move as Skattebo continues his recovery from a severe leg injury.
The viral video clip showed Skattebo walking onto the stage to the entrance music of WWE superstar Triple H before attempting the standing backflip. He failed to land cleanly, briefly losing his balance before regaining his footing and celebrating with the crowd. Although the running back appeared unhurt, the stumble sparked immediate worry among observers because of his recent medical history.
Skattebo's rookie season came to an abrupt end after he suffered a devastating leg injury, which included an open tibia fracture, a ruptured deltoid ligament, and a dislocated right ankle. Despite his campaign being cut short, he flashed significant promise during his first NFL season, finishing with 410 rushing yards, 207 receiving yards on 24 receptions, and seven total touchdowns.
Following the online backlash and rising concerns about his ankle ahead of the 2026 NFL season, Skattebo broke his silence to reassure fans and the franchise that he is completely healthy. "I'm gonna address the elephant… I will NOT hurt myself before the season," Skattebo stated.
He explained that the setup of the stage contributed to the awkward landing. "So what happened was, I don't know if you guys know about WWE or not. Those floors are bouncy, so when I took off, I was mid-air like, 'I'm not gonna land this, I'm way too high,'" Skattebo said. He added that the heavily padded surface also affected his footing, saying, "It had too much cushion, it wasn't a stiff firm ground… I safely landed, got back up and was good to go. So nothing came out of that, I'm perfectly fine, nothing happened, we are good."
The Giants are expected to rely heavily on Skattebo for their offense in 2026. With John Harbaugh, offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, and assistant Greg Roman expected to construct a run-heavy offensive scheme around him, keeping Skattebo healthy remains a top priority for the franchise.
Hence, Skattebo's health remains one of the franchise's biggest priorities.
