The New York Giants are facing an uphill battle as veteran kicker Graham Gano is set to miss several weeks due to a hamstring injury sustained in Sunday’s tough loss to the Washington Commanders.
Giants head coach Brian Daboll announced Monday that the team will be scrambling to train kickers this week ahead of their crucial Week 3 matchup against the Cleveland Browns.
Gano, 37, had already appeared on the injury report on Saturday with a groin issue, only to exacerbate matters by injuring his hamstring during Sunday’s kickoff. Talk about bad luck compounding at the worst possible time!
Without another kicker on their active roster Sunday, things went from bad to disastrous. The Giants endured a missed extra point by Jamie Gillan, a failed 2-point conversion, and even avoided attempting a short field goal late in the fourth quarter. The result? The Giants became only the second team in NFL history to lose a game despite scoring three touchdowns and allowing none, a rare and frustrating feat last accomplished in 1989 by the Los Angeles Rams, according to PFT.
Graham Gano, who joined the Giants in 2020 after notable stints with the Washington Football Team (2009-11) and the Carolina Panthers (2012-18), is no stranger to adversity. He was a Pro Bowl selection in 2017 with the Panthers and had to sit out the entire 2019 season due to injury. Yet, resilience has been Gano’s hallmark. He even managed to nail two field goals in the Giants’ season-opening loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
As the Giants prepare to face Cleveland, all eyes will be on how they navigate these stormy waters without their seasoned kicker. One thing is clear: this team needs a hero, and a well-timed boot through the uprights might just provide the spark they desperately need.
