The New York Giants’ 2024 season hinges on a selected participant — quarterback Daniel Jones — efficiently rehabbing from ACL surgical procedure and returning to motion 100%.
However there’s one other knee the group shall be keeping track of this summer time. That of veteran kicker Graham Gano, who additionally missed the second half of the 2023 season with an harm to his left knee that required surgical procedure.
The 37-year-old Gano’s harm was to his plant leg, not his kicking leg, and though it was reported in mid-October, he was not positioned on injured reserve (IR) till November 3.
Gano, who had been hitting over 90 p.c of his subject objective makes an attempt since turning into a Big in 2020, was simply 11-of-17 final yr. He was additionally coping with a proper ankle challenge early on within the yr.
The Giants changed Gano on the roster with Randy Bullock and Mason Crosby. Punter Jamie Gillan was additionally thrust into spot placekicking obligation one week.
This spring, Gano — who’s beneath contract till 2026 — was again on the sector at OTAs kicking, however the Giants aren’t taking any possibilities. They’ll have former Rutgers standout Jude McAtamney readily available in case Gano ought to endure a setback.
First-year Giants particular group coordinator Michael Ghobrial is trying ahead to working with Gano this summer time and past.
“He’s an amazing individual to have within the room, a man that’s seen numerous soccer,” Ghobrial mentioned on the Giants’ minicamp in mid-June. “He has nice foot accuracy. You clearly see the explosive leg… So it’s been enjoyable to work with him and to see his skillset when it comes to the kickoff and subject objective stuff. I’m excited for him to start out off day one with us.”
Ghobrial additionally addressed the plan for Gano this summer time, which can rely on how effectively Gano is coming alongside.
“I believe you all the time have to watch what number of kicks a specialist has typically,” he mentioned. “However the truth of the matter is that is sort of a dialog that you just all the time have with the participant. How are you feeling at the moment? The most important factor is you need to make certain they present as much as the sport wholesome and able to go. I’ve seen him do every part that I have to.”
That’s excellent news for the Giants. Gano has been a stalwart for them and so they want all the consistency they will get as they try and climb again into competition.