Nov 01, 2024
The Giants keep getting their kickers hurt in practice, especially when they’re about to face the Washington Commanders. Greg Joseph was ruled out of Sunday’s game at MetLife Stadium with an oblique injury after undergoing an MRI on Friday morning, which likely will thrust rookie Rutgers product Jude McAtamney into his NFL debut. This happened in Week 2, as well: Graham Gano popped up on the Giants’ Sept. 14 injury report with a groin injury before the team’s Sept. 15 road game at Washington. But the Giants didn’t elevate a backup kicker as insurance. Gano then hurt his hamstring on a Washington 98-yard opening kickoff return by Austin Ekeler that got called back due to a holding penalty. Punter Jamie Gillan missed his first extra point try. And Brian Daboll refused to kick an extra point or field goal the rest of that 21-18 loss. Gano remains on injured reserve almost two months later. Joseph is the third Giants kicker or punter to get hurt in practice this season. Gillan hurt his left hamstring in practice prior to the Giants’ Week 6 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, and he will miss his fourth straight game on Sunday — although the Giants never placed him on injured reserve. Free agent signing Matt Haack, who has punted in Gillan’s place the last three weeks, outkicked his coverage on Monday night’s 73-yard Calvin Austin III punt return for a Steelers touchdown in a 26-18 road loss at Pittsburgh. Special teams coordinator Michael Ghobrial, who had said “we’re on to Cleveland” in September rather than explaining Ekeler’s Week 2 kickoff return, took responsibility Thursday for the coverage breakdown in Pittsburgh. “I ultimately got to do a better job of coaching all those fundamentals the right way,” Ghobrial said. Joseph’s Friday MRI at least forces the Giants to sign or activate a healthy kicker for Sunday’s game compared to Week 2, when they had to play the entire loss without one. McAtamney, 24, an international exemption on the Giants’ practice squad from Derry, Ireland, spent the 2021 season at Chowan University in North Carolina and the 2022-23 seasons at Rutgers before going pro. The former Gaelic football player made both of his preseason field goal attempts from 43 and 23 yards, as well as an extra point. Now he’ll be put to the test Sunday in a game that counts. TRACY CLEARED, ROBINSON QUESTIONABLE Giants starting running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. cleared the concussion protocol on Friday and will be active for Sunday’s game against Washington. The rookie is coming off a 145-yards rushing performance with a touchdown in the loss to the Steelers. His presence is necessary for the Giants to compete and win Sunday. Top Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr., meanwhile, is questionable with a hamstring injury after being limited in practice all week. If he is limited or out, that will remove a major weapon from Washington’s arsenal against the Giants’ league-worst run defense. Commanders offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas (ankle) is out Sunday. Giants special teams receiver Bryce Ford-Wheaton (Achilles) is doubtful, and special teams linebacker Ty Summers (ankle) is questionable.
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