New York Giants need a new placekicker

Graham Gano expected to miss a few weeks; Could the Giants reunite with Randy Bullock?

Placekicker Graham Gano, who suffered a hamstring injury on the first play of Sunday’s loss to the Washington Commanders, will likely be sidelined “a few weeks,” New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll said on Monday.

That means that the Giants will need a new placekicker for their Week 3 game against the Cleveland Browns, and likely several weeks after that. The 37-year-old Gano is likely headed to injured reserve for the second consecutive season.

Rich Barnes-Imagn Images

The Giants have undrafted rookie Jude McAtamney, who handled kickoffs for Rutgers last season and made 12 of 18 field goals for the Scarlet Knights in 2022, on their practice squad.

Daboll said the Giants would work out veteran placekickers this week, then choose.

“We’ll make a decision off of the workout,” Daboll said.

The Giants did not elevate McAtamney from their practice squad for Sunday’s game against the Washington Commanders despite Gano being on the injury report with a groin injury. The decision backfired, and Daboll has been heavily criticized for it.

One veteran placekicker who is available is Randy Bullock, who kicked in six games for the Giants as a replacement for Gano in 2023. Bullock, 34, made 5 of 6 field goals and all 10 of his extra point attempts with the Giants. His longest field goal was 56 yards.

Bullock was a fifth-round pick by the Houston Texans in the 2012 NFL Draft. He has kicked for the Texans, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans and Giants.

Brandon McManus, whom the Giants traded to the Denver Broncos at the end of the preseason in 2014, is also available. The 33-year-old kicked for the Broncos for nine years, then spent last season with the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he made 30 of 37 field goals (81.1%).

McManus signed with the Washington Commanders in free agency, but was cut in June when a sexual assault allegation was filed against him.