EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) 鈥� Coming off , Najee Harris had to wait until the middle of NFL training camps in August to sign a contract.
Now that he has joined the New York Giants, the veteran running back does not anticipate making them wait for him to contribute. Fresh off signing with them Monday, Harris has his confidence back and is eager to play sooner than later.
鈥淗ow long鈥檚 it going to take? I don鈥檛 know, but I鈥檓 going to be good,鈥� Harris said Tuesday after doing limited individual work in practice. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not going to take a long time. It doesn鈥檛 take a long time for me to get in shape. I take that seriously. I鈥檓 committed to that, so I鈥檓 not really too worried about that at all.鈥�
Coach John Harbaugh estimated it would take 2-3 weeks for Harris to be game ready. New York’s season opener against Dallas on Sept. 13 is 3 1/2 weeks away.
“Just in time, probably,” Harbaugh said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 an experienced back. Anybody that鈥檚 watched him play knows what type of a back he is. He鈥檚 a downhill runner, a physical runner.”
How substantial Harris’ role might be is anyone’s guess as the 28-year-old joins a backfield that includes prospective starters Cam Skattebo and Tyrone Tracy and another runner with more than 100 games of experience in the league, Devin Singletary. Skattebo only recently became again after breaking his right fibula and in October.
Harris also went through a long rehabilitation process after tearing his left Achilles tendon on a noncontact play with the Los Angeles Chargers against Denver on Sept. 21.
“I鈥檓 proud of the work that I did,” Harris said. “It鈥檚 been a process, but I learned a lot about myself: Just trying to get back, get the strength back and push off of it. It went really well.”
Before the injury cut his season short at three games, Harris was a full-time feature back with the Pittsburgh Steelers and eclipsed 1,000 yards rushing four years in a row from 2021-24. Even with that resume, he feels he has a lot to prove.
鈥淓verything that I did in the past is in the past, and really everything I do now is really what matters,鈥� Harris said. “I know there鈥檚 going to be a lot of questions of how I鈥檒l come back looking, and I鈥檓 ready to answer all those.鈥�
The Giants with Harbaugh in charge are expected to rely heavily on the running game. Harris at 6-foot-1 and over 240 pounds gives them another battering ram, and he said he likes the opportunity in front of him, even at a crowded position.
鈥淭he style of play that they鈥檙e heading towards is the style of play that aligns with me,鈥� Harris said. “I鈥檓 willing to just put my foot in there and help out any way I can.鈥�
Forcing his way into carries means there may be fewer for Skattebo and Tracy. Harbaugh said he’s excited for the possibilities with Harris but hasn’t addressed the situation with the other backs.
鈥淓verybody understands,鈥� Harbaugh said. “Football鈥檚 competitive, the NFL鈥檚 competitive and we鈥檙e building the strongest team we can and he鈥檚 a really good football player.鈥�
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