Cam Skattebo is expected to return to the running back mix on Sunday

Giants running back Cam Skattebo, after having a key overtime fumble in Week 5, played only six snaps and had no touches in Week 6. He apparently has been released from coach John Harbaugh's doghouse.

Via Jordan Raanan of ESPN, Harbaugh said Friday that Skattebo had a "good week" of practice, and that he should return to the running back rotation on Sunday at Houston.

"It's been good, you know; I think I got taught a lesson," Skattebo said, via Raanan. "I don't know if that's from them or from myself, but I kind of had to step back and look at it and figure out why I was doing the things I was doing, what was happening. Came to practice, corrected those things, worked on them. Ready to go back out there and play ball. . . .

"I took care of the ball during practice, and whatever my role is on Sunday is going to be my role and I'm going to give it everything I've got."

Beyond Skattebo being frozen out of the game plan against the Saints, he and the rest of the team got a wakeup call regarding who's in charge when running back Najee Harris was cut only two days after publicly questioning the approach to the run game.

"Nobody's safe," Skattebo said. "It's as simple as that. I think when we go on the field and we perform, if we're not performing, we understand there's a possibility of not being here. If I don't perform, I know there's a possibility of me not being here. We came in this week. We continue to work. We know where we're at. We know what we have. If we put that to display, we're going to be just fine."

For the season, Skattebo has 81 carries for 294 yards and one touchdown. He's averaging 3.6 yards per carry.

Last week, three Giants running backs had carries in the 34-27 loss to New Orleans. Tyrone Tracy ran six times for 18 yards, Devin Singletary received four attempts for 14 yards, and Harris had two rushes for four yards. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy led the team in rushing with 26 yards on two attempts.

With McCarthy getting his first start less than four weeks arriving via trade, the Giants need to have a solid effort on the ground to make it easier for McCarthy to operate the passing game. Skattebo will get a chance to provide the punch the Giants were missing in Week 6.