The Giants are going to get their “Motor” running.
With Cam Skattebo (hamstring) listed as doubtful, Tyrone Tracy Jr. on injured reserve and Najee Harris no longer on the roster, the Giants are likely to feature Devin “Motor” Singletary as their lead running back Sunday against the Eagles. Consider it a wild turn of events considering that he was a healthy scratch fourth-stringer for a third straight game on Oct. 11.
“I just stayed positive because that’s who I am,” Singletary said. “Do you want it to go down like this? No, but it’s the nature of the beast. I wouldn’t say (it was) frustrating. It’s how the game goes. A lot of competition, deep backfield. When that opportunity comes, you want to be ready instead of being so mad or sad that you can’t capture the moment when it’s here.”
Singletary was last seen rushing for the walk-off 30-yard overtime touchdown against the Texans after Tracy and Skattebo were injured. But that’s different than being a workhorse in front of newcomer Greg Derosiers and potential practice-squad elevation Phil Mafah.
It’s a full-circle moment considering Singletary was signed in 2024 as the immediate response to losing Saquon Barkley to the Eagles but ultimately was pushed aside by Tracy. Just to stay with the Giants for a third season, Singletary took a pay cut to the veteran minimum.
“I looked at it as, ‘We’ve been through these hard past two years, why would I leave when it’s about to get good? I want to be a part of this,’” Singletary said.
Singletary’s single-game high since joining the Giants is 16 carries (third and most recent time in Week 11 of last season). But he has had three 800-plus-yard seasons in his career and is confident he can still carry the load with “fresh” legs.
“I know what I can do,” Singletary said. “I want to be able to display that.”
Perhaps Singletary’s unexpected opportunity is a karmic reward for his professionalism handling becoming the odd-man-out after Harris was signed during training camp.
“The discussions that we had in practice when he wasn’t playing, he never became negative, he never made it about him,” offensive coordinator Matt Nagy said. “He was as great of a professional player as there was – and look what happened. And I think it’s a story for young kids, it’s a story for vets, to be patient, to understand things happen for a reason. When he scored that touchdown, I couldn’t think but anything of how he handled himself the entire last five weeks. For him, what a credit and we’re lucky to have him.”
Singletary and head coach John Harbaugh tackled each other to the ground in celebration after beating the Texans. Harbaugh later admitted that he made a mistake demoting Singletary.
“One thing I respect about him is he kept it real with me,” Singletary said. “You don’t always see that in the league. In so many words, it was, ‘This is what it is right now. I need you to stay patient. We’ll see how it plays out.’ I appreciated that because some people will leave you there with no answers.”
The Eagles rank No. 28 in rushing defense.
“You can put him in there,” running backs coach Willie Taggart said, “and not be nervous of him not knowing what to do.”
