How and when will Najee Harris fit into Giants offense?

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The New York Giants added veteran running back Najee Harris on Tuesday, signing him to a one-year deal. He wasted no time joining the team on the practice field.

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Harris, 26, was a first-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers out of Alabama back in 2021 (24th overall), earning Pro Bowl honors as a rookie. Harris rushed for 1,000 or more yards in each of his four seasons in Pittsburgh.

Last season, Harris, who stands at six-foot-one and weighs 242 pounds, signed a free-agent deal with the Los Angeles Chargers for one year at $9.5 million. He played just three games before tearing his Achilles tendon, which ended his season.

In Los Angeles, Harris played under head coach Jim Harbaugh, whose brother John is now the Giants' head coach. He also played under offensive assistant Greg Roman, who is currently the Giants' run-game coordinator. Harris understands the offense and the scheme the Giants are planning to run.

"I want opportunity. I think this is a good opportunity here," Harris said Tuesday. "I think the style of play that they're heading towards is the style of play that aligns with me. Harbaugh coming from the AFC North, me playing against him a lot of times, I know the type of style of football he wants. I think that we align with each other with what type of football we want to play. I think that just coming here is a good opportunity, and I'm willing to just put my foot in there and help out in any way I can."

Bobby Skinner of Giants Nation Show put together a quick montage of what Harris can add to the Giants' offense.

The running back room now has plenty of options with Cam Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy, Jr., Devin Singletary, Harris, and rookie Damon Bankston.

The Giants' plan for Harris is unclear, other than possibly spelling Skattebo and/or Tracy or even filling in for them should they get injured. Harbaugh said he hadn't discussed the addition of Harris with the other running backs yet.

"I think they understand," he said. "I haven't talked to them about it. If there are any questions, we'll talk to them, but everybody understands. I mean, football's competitive, the NFL's competitive, and we're building the strongest team we can, and he's a really good football player, so that's it."

Harris will likely fit right in with the group. His resume matches up well with what the Giants are trying to do this year.

"Really good players, man, really good players. Cam (Skattebo) and just everybody there," Harris said of the Giants' running back unit. "I feel like they’ve all got their own special talent, and they're all good players. They're all guys who can be ones and I feel like we all could just elevate each other and make each other better. And I thought the guys in there are all great guys, and it's a good room, really good room." From RotoWire: "Harris is well-regarded for his blitz pickup and short-yardage ability, which could complicate the snap projection for the Giants' young backfield duo, even if Harris himself is not a featured part of the offense."

"He’s an experienced back. Anybody that's watched him play knows what type of a back he is," Harbaugh added. "He's a downhill runner, physical runner. I've played against him a lot. I have a good feel for who he is as a player. Everybody that's been around him- my brother (Jim Harbaugh), G-RO (Roman), (former Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach) Mike Tomlin- love him as a teammate. So, excited for the possibilities."

Harris also said he has a chip on his shoulder after missing nearly an entire season to injury.

"I most definitely go into every year with a chip on my shoulder, but more so much this year," he said. "I have a lot to prove as somebody coming back from a torn Achilles. Really everything that I did in the past is in the past, and everything I do now is really what matters. I know there are going to be a lot of questions of how I'll come back looking, and I'm ready to answer all those."

Harbaugh estimated Harris can get into "football shape" in about "two-to-three weeks" but said that his recovery from injury will be an "ongoing" situation. The Giants open the regular season on Sunday, Sept. 13. But Harris wouldn't put a time frame on his readiness to fully contribute.

"I don't know. Am I fully in football shape? No, I just got my pads today," he said. "There’s a difference between getting in shape and in football shape because it's hard to replicate pads in the offseason other than just putting it on and going out there and work. So, can I go out there and run some plays? Of course I can. But am I where I want to be, like (where) Najee wants to be at? No, probably not. And how long is it going to take? I don't know. But I mean, I'm going to be good. It's not going to take a long time. It doesn't take a long time for me to get in shape. I take that seriously. I'm committed to that. I'm not really too worried about that at all."

This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: How and when will Najee Harris fit into Giants offense?

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