New York Giants interim head coach Mike Kafka isn't wrestling with concern over injured running back Cam Skattebo's participation in a staged WWE event on Monday night at Madison Square Garden.
Skattebo's physical involvement in the wrestling arena drew a mixed reaction from some Giants fans, given that the running back is approximately three weeks removed from surgery following a severe ankle injury.
Kafka, however, said Wednesday that he wasn't too worried when he saw Skattebo, fellow Giants rookie
linebacker Abdul Carter and defensive tackle Roy Robertson-Harris at WWE's "Monday Night Raw."
"Yeah, I trust Skatt, and I trust our medical department, our medical staff to take great care of him," Kafka said.
As for the event itself?
"So, I thought it was a cool thing," Kafka said. "I know it was like a staged little brawl there. It was great to see Skatt on the pregame, on the sideline. His juice, his energy, you can feel it. I can feel it through the TV and through my phone when I was watching the clips. So, it's a cool event for those guys to kind of get out and be out in the community."
Seated ringside on Monday, Skattebo was involved in what can best be described as an "impromptu" pushing match with a wrestling villainous faction known as "Judgment Day."
It all started with wrestler Dominik Mysterio drawing heat from the MSG crowd by taunting comedian Andrew Schulz about the city's lack of recent pro sports champions.
Mysterio then asked how many years it had been since a New York team had won a championship before turning to Skattebo, who was seated nearby. The wrestler then addressed Skattebo and said: "Can you count, Cam? How many years? He don't know. He can't count."
Mysterio shoved Schulz, prompting Skattebo to rise from his seat to confront the wrestler while showing no ill effects from a gruesome ankle injury suffered in Week 8. Skattebo, who was wearing a protective boot, pushed back against Mysterio, igniting a brawl between the Giants players and the group of wrestlers.
Fans and sportstalk radio hosts in New York and beyond were busy voicing their thoughts on Skattebo being ringside and involved in the staged altercation on Tuesday when the rookie back defended himself.
"Honestly if you don't like that I'm having a good time while dealing with a tough time, then just go ahead and unfollow and casually move on," Skattebo posted on X. "I'm not able to play football and have the fun I've been having my whole life so I am doing things outside the box trying to find stuff to keep me happy. Enjoy the rest of y'all's week and just don't talk about me if you ain't got nothing nice to say."
Skattebo's season came to an end after he was placed on injured reserve Oct. 29, three days after he sustained a severe ankle injury in the Giants' 38-20 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Skattebo, 23, had 101 carries for 410 yards and five touchdowns in eight games (five starts). He also caught 24 passes for 207 yards and two TDs for the Giants, who selected Skattebo in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft out of Arizona State.
--Field Level Media
