Giants' Skattebo Says He's Fine After Botched Backflip on Repaired
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- Cam Skattebo said he's "perfectly fine" after failing to land his trademark backflip and landing awkwardly on his surgically repaired right ankle during a Fanatics Fest appearance on Saturday, blaming the "bouncy" floors
- The viral botched-flip video came months after Skattebo's rookie season was cut short by an open tibia fracture and right ankle dislocation in Week 8 against the Philadelphia Eagles
- Skattebo is on track to be a full participant in Giants training camp next month as he continues his recovery from last season's gruesome injury
- New Giants coach John Harbaugh joked last month that he told Skattebo "no backflips" at minicamp, and Skattebo acknowledged at Sunday's appearance he needs to "not hurt myself before the season"
- Skattebo had successfully landed the same backflip on May 30 at a celebrity softball game after hitting a home run, showing the move is a regular part of his routine
- Defying social media critics who called him "brain-dead," Skattebo said: "I'm just going to keep being me"
Why it matters: Skattebo's reassurance matters because the Giants are counting on him at full strength for training camp next month after he lost his entire rookie season to a Week 8 ankle dislocation and open tibia fracture — any setback now would directly threaten a backfield the new John Harbaugh regime is building around. His vow to keep doing backflips despite the viral scare signals the coaching staff may have to actively manage his pregame rituals to protect the surgically repaired ankle before the season starts.
