Rookie running back has earned bigger role for New York Giants

Devin Singletary will return to the New York Giants on Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles after missing two games with a groin injury. When he does, though, he will return to a different situation at running back than the one he left.

When Singletary was injured, he was the Giants’ unquestioned No. 1 running back. Singletary was averaging 14 carries per game through four games. Tyrone Tracy had only 12 carries for the season at that point.

A fifth-round pick, Tracy took full advantage of Singletary’s absence. Over two games, he carried 35 times for 179 yards (5.1 yards per carry), including an 18-carry, 129-yard game against the Seattle Seahawks.

Thus, Singletary will return to a time share. Head coach Brian Daboll admitted Friday that Tracy will receive more playing time than he did before Singletary’s injury.

“He’s earned it,” Daboll said. “He’s done a good job, so he’ll get plenty of playing time.”

Eric Gray has also carved out a role on third downs, with four receptions (three for first downs) for an an average 14.8 yards per catch.

“Motor (Singletary), we’ll see how the game’s going and how it transpires,” Daboll said. “But Motor will play, Tracy will play, (running back Eric) Gray will play. We’ll use all three of those guys.”

Running back production will, of course, be a central storyline on Sunday with former Giants star Saquon Barkley in the backfield for the Eagles.

Barkley is having an excellent season for Philadelphia. He is seventh in the league in rushing yards (482) and tied for 11th at 5.3 yards per carry.

Between Tracy and Singletary, the Giants have 429 rushing yards on 103 attempts (4.2 yards per carry). Between Tracy, Singletary and Gray Giants running backs have 25 receptions for 230 yards. Barkley has 14 catches for 92 yards.

“There is no shadow. There really isn’t,” Tracy told NorthJersey.com this week. “It’s not a conversation that we need to have about making sure we don’t try to be better than Saquon – none of us think like that. We’re all football players. Motor’s his own person. E-Gray’s his own person. I’m my own person. You can’t be somebody else. The way we run, it’s different than the way he runs. We’ve just got to keep being who we are. Be true to who we are, and that’s what is going to let us excel in our offense. Trying to be somebody else, if you’re not being yourself, we’re not getting nowhere.”

Shadow or not, running back production will be something to pay attention to on Sunday. Tracy should be a big part of the discussion.

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