Giants release Najee Harris after a four-carry start against the Saints

The New York Giants are releasing running back Najee Harris, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said Tuesday morning, Oct. 20. Art Stapleton of The Record and NorthJersey.com also said the Giants have released Harris, citing his own source, and ESPN carried the news shortly after.

What is confirmed

Harris started Sunday's 34-27 home loss to the Saints and ran four times for two yards. He has 31 carries for 99 yards this season, a 3.2-yard average, per Stapleton. That total is second on the team behind Cam Skattebo, per ESPN.

The Giants dressed four running backs on Sunday: Harris, Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Devin Singletary. The group combined for 34 rushing yards, and Skattebo did not get a carry after fumbling four times this season. Jordan Raanan of ESPN had the snaps at Singletary 29, Tracy 26, Harris 11 and Skattebo 6, with the Giants playing from behind.

Harris was frustrated after the game. "It's hard to get into a rhythm with one or two runs," he said, per ESPN. John Harbaugh said none of the backs had earned the lead job yet and that "somebody needs to step up and be the back."

The Giants are 3-2-1. Harris, 28, is in his sixth season after four years with the Steelers, who drafted him in the first round in 2021, and an Achilles tear with the Chargers before he signed in New York this offseason.

What is still open

As of 11:50 a.m. ET, the move did not yet appear on ESPN's transaction log. Nobody has said whether another team is interested in Harris. The Giants have not named a lead back for Week 7.

What RSO owners should do now

If you roster Harris, don't cut him in a panic, but don't count on him either. He needs a new team before he has any lineup value, and he has averaged 3.2 yards a carry this season.

In New York, cutting one of four backs makes the rotation smaller but not clearer. Skattebo still has the most rushing yards on the team, and Raanan expects him to play more against Houston. Tracy and Singletary got most of Sunday's snaps. Treat all three as risky Week 7 starts until the Giants show their plan.

Next, watch for Harris on waivers or free agency and for the first Giants depth chart and practice reps of the week.