Devin Singletary is about to live every toddler’s dream.
After five years spent in split backfields with the likes of Frank Gore, Zack Moss, James Cook and Dameon Pierce, Singletary’s days being told to share (carries) might be over now that he is with the Giants.
At least early in the season — which starts Sunday against the Vikings — and for as long as it takes young backups Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Eric Gray to get acclimated.
“You can use him on all three downs,” head coach Brian Daboll said. “So, whether that’s running inside [or] outside, pass protection, routes, you don’t have to sub him a bunch in terms of, ‘This person has this specific play, this other running back has this specific play.’ He’s an all-purpose back for us.”
That’s new.
Singletary, 27, didn’t reach 200 carries in any of his four seasons with the Bills — including three under Daboll as offensive coordinator — and averaged 204 touches when receptions were added.
He tallied career highs of 216 carries and 246 touches last season in his layover with the Texans, after wrangling the starting job away from Pierce.
By comparison, Singletary’s predecessor, Saquon Barkley, averaged 271 carries and 320 touches per season under Daboll.
He only had fewer than 217 carries and 269 touches once during five full seasons with the Giants (excluding his torn ACL in Week 2 of 2020).
“The season will kind of dictate that as far as how we’re running the ball,” running backs coach Joel Thomas said of Singletary’s workload. “Each game is a different story, but [Singletary] has done nothing but proven that he can carry some of the load.”
Nicknamed “Motor,” the 5-foot-7, 203-pound Singletary might not look the part of a bell cow, but his durability résumé includes not missing a game over the last four seasons.
This is a long-awaited opportunity to join the ranks of the every-down backs.
“That’s what you work for, so I’m excited for this year,” Singletary said. “You see a little bit across the league there are still a few guys doing it. That’s the name of the game when you are a back. You want to be able to do everything.”
General manager Joe Schoen believes teams need multiple starting-caliber running backs because of the wear-and-tear associated with the position.
It’s one of the reasons that Barkley and the Giants couldn’t close a small gap in contract negotiations before he went to the Eagles and Singletary was a value replacement on a three-year, $16.5 million contract.
The key to playing on third down is pass protection. It’s an area that Barkley had to strengthen over time, and that the rookie Tracy — who still was a Big Ten receiver just two years ago — and Gray, who only had 17 carries as a rookie last season, need to develop to gain a bigger piece of the pie.
“Motor has done a great job for us getting downhill,” left tackle Andrew Thomas said. “He makes really good cuts in the hole. He does a great job for us with pass protection, too. That goes unnoticed sometimes.”
The Giants cast a vote of confidence in Singletary — who was Daboll’s choice over fellow free agent D’Andre Swift, as seen on “Hard Knocks” — by not pairing him with another veteran.
Matt Breida, who has deep ties to Daboll and was Barkley’s primary backup, remains unsigned.
“My [mentality] has always set me apart from a lot of people,” Singletary said. “Just the way I go about things, being a dog. I’m going to give you everything I’ve got. And the guys can feed off that energy.”
Singletary averaged 4.5 yards per carry and recorded three of his five career 100-yard rushing games after Week 6 of last season.
“You want to peak toward the end, and I’ve kind of always been like that,” Singletary said. “That’s when more of my opportunities always came.”
Not so this year. More opportunities than ever are coming quickly.
