Tyrone Tracy’s shifting role could signal Giants moving to running back timeshare

Tyrone Tracy Jr.’s unusual role in Sunday’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys — serving as a primary kickoff returner while logging only five carries — has raised questions about whether the New York Giants will adopt a running-back timeshare rather than relying on a single workhorse.

Head coach Brian Daboll said the change was not discipline for comments Tracy made last week about the team’s red-zone rushing, but a situational decision tied to special teams usage. "No," Daboll said when asked if Tracy’s role stemmed from team discipline. "Tracy had a number of kickoff returns [five for 132 yards] that I thought … you give him a break off of there. We thought we could get the ball in his hands a few more times. They weren’t kicking it to Gunner [Olszewski], they were kicking it to Tracy, and he had some good kickoff returns for us."

Devin Singletary started at running back in place of Tracy and blocked on Gunner Olszewski’s 67-yard kickoff return that was called back by penalty on the opening kickoff. Cam Skattebo carried early, gaining a first down on the third offensive snap, and then Tracy received the ball on each of the next four plays, one of which was nullified by penalty. As the game progressed, Skattebo’s role expanded: he finished with 11 carries to Tracy’s five, played more snaps (35-28), rushed for 45 yards to Tracy’s 15 and scored a 1-yard touchdown. Singletary, who started, saw limited action after the opening series, playing only three more snaps through overtime.

"Thought Skat was running good," Daboll said. "That could be a week-to-week deal." He added that the Giants have flexibility in the backfield: "We have three guys who we can use, and if we think one is running pretty good or feeling it we’ll get it to him. And if not, we’ll use all three of them. I have confidence in all three of those guys." The comments suggested the team may rotate carries based on game flow and performance.

The altered usage of Tracy carries implications for roster management and fantasy football lineups, particularly if the Giants continue a committee approach. Daboll also noted that injuries were a consideration when determining playing time. The coach said the team had "a number of people getting looked at" for injuries following the game.

Offensive guard Jon Runyan Jr. told The Athletic after the game that he felt a "crack" in his back on the opening drive but played through it; Runyan had a postgame X-ray. Linebackers Chris Board (chest) and Darius Muasau (concussion) were among those under evaluation. The Giants finished the game with practice-squad elevation Swayne Bozeman — who joined the team after training camp — taking snaps with the first-team defense.

A pair of special-teams and endurance facts underlined the game’s late moments. New York has been on the losing end of four field goals of 61 yards or longer since 2017, accounting for 22.2 percent of such kicks in the 32-team league; no other team has allowed more than two. Safety Tyler Nubin logged a combined 106 snaps between defense and special teams, and fellow safety Jevon Holland played 98. Holland attributed late-game errors to fatigue: "Being in those moments when you’re that tired and your brain is not functioning as it was when you’re fresh," he said. "So that’s why I say, ‘Fall to the level of your training.'"

Daboll’s explanation and the game-day snap counts suggested the Giants may prioritize situational matchups and special-teams contributions when allocating carries. Whether Sunday’s usage evolves into a permanent rotation will become clearer as New York navigates injuries and evaluates the three runners over the coming weeks.