If he comes through the week of practice looking healthy, Graham Gano will return to his role as placekicker for the New York Giants on Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Giants opened the practice window for Gano, who has been on Injured Reserve with a groin injury the past four weeks, on Wednesday.
The Giants waived placekicker Jude McAtamney on Tuesday. McAtamney missed three extra points in the past two games, two of those in Sunday’s one-point loss to the Denver Broncos.
Head coach Brian Daboll said this won’t be a competition between Gano and Younghoe Koo, a veteran placekicker who is on the Giants practice squad.
“If Graham is ready to go Graham will be the kicker,” Daboll said. “We’ll go through the week here and [if he] looks good hopefully he’ll be out there.
“He’s done a good job for us. Couldn’t do anything about the injury that he had.”
Gano suffered his groin injury just minutes before kickoff of the Giants’ Week 3 game against the Kansas City Chiefs. He kicked a short field goal late in the game, but was unable to do anything else. He was placed on IR before the Week 4 game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
This is the third straight season during which Gano has missed significant time due to injury. In two straight seasons, Gano has suffered pre-game or in-game leg injuries that have left the Giants without a placekicker.
In 2023, he kicked in only eight games due to a knee injury that ended his season. In 2024, he suffered a groin injury on the opening kickoff of a Week 2 game against the Washington Commanders and missed seven games.
“If he’s ready to play and he goes through practice and he feels good, then he’ll be the kicker,” Daboll said. “Let’s see how it looks Friday after practice.”
Daboll said he will see Gano kick on Wednesday for the first time since his injury.
“They [the training staff] think he’s ready to go,” Daboll said. “They feel comfortable about what he’s been doing.”
If something happens with Gano during the week, Koo would likely be elevated from the practice squad to kick against Philadelphia.
Not practicing
Edge Brian Burns
Safety Jevon Holland
Cornerback Paulson Adebo
Defensive lineman Chauncey Golston
Wide receiver Darius Slayton, out with a hamstring injury the past two weeks, will practice.
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