Giants beat writer gives possible reason for New York's odd kicker decision

Mike Moraitis

Giants beat writer gives possible reason for New York's odd kicker decision image

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The New York Giants did what everyone expected them to on and placed veteran kicker Graham Gano on injured reserve.

How they replaced him was not expected, though.

The Giants announced on Saturday that they have elevated kicker Jude McAtamney from the practice squad instead of veteran Younghoe Koo, who will have to wait at least another week to make his Giants debut.

When New York signed Koo earlier in the week following his release from Atlanta, the expectation was the eight-year veteran would be the solution to replace Gano.

Going with the less experienced kicker in McAtamney is certainly a surprise, but there might be an explanation for the decision.

ESPN's Jordan Raanan says that while he didn't see a lot of the kickers at practice, he did note that the veteran struggled on kickoffs, so that might be the explanation.

"Saw very little of them kick at practice this week but Koo definitely shanked a couple kickoffs at practice on Friday. One hit off the back of a player on the front line of the return team," Raanan wrote on X.

McAtamney has been on the Giants' practice squad since last year and was elevated for one game, but the Irish-born kicker has kicked just one field goal (31 yards) and one extra point in his career, both of which he made.

Meanwhile, Koo has been in the NFL for eight seasons and sports a career success rate of 85.8%. Granted, he has struggled since last season, but you would think he would still get the first crack at New York's vacancy.

Whatever the case may be, it's McAtamney time in New York.

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Mike Moraitis

Mike Moraitis is a freelance writer who covers the NFL for the Sporting News. Over his nearly two decades covering sports, Mike has also worked for Bleacher Report, USA TODAY and FanSided. He hates writing in the third person.