After a poor showing in a 33-32 loss to the Broncos on Sunday, the Giants have cut kicker Jude McAtamney, Ryan Dunleavy of the Latest York Post reports. He’ll head to waivers.
Since the Northern Ireland native has a global exemption, he could return to the Giants’ practice squad without taking over a roster spot. Nevertheless, it’s unclear if the team will retain him, in line with Dunleavy.
With Graham Gano once more needing an injury fill-in (after sustaining a groin injury during a warmup for Big Blue’s Week 3 game), the Giants turned to their practice squad stash. McAtamney has kicked in 4 games for the Giants this season; these assignments have been quite light on field goal tries. The international signing has only attempted two field goals this season, making each, though neither was beyond 40 yards. Close-range kicks became a difficulty Sunday.
McAtamney missed two extra points through the Giants’ collapse in Denver, the second of which coming in the ultimate minute. The second miss allowed the Broncos to aim a game-winning field goal in the ultimate seconds, and Wil Lutz made the walk-off attempt to sink the visitors in one of the crucial stunning comebacks in NFL history. McAtamney also missed a PAT within the Giants’ win over the Eagles; he’s 9-for-12 on the season.
Teams up by 18 points in the ultimate six minutes of a game had won 1,602 straight games; this became the exception, with the Broncos’ 33-point fourth quarter erasing a 26-8 deficit midway through the stanza. No staff firings have followed this crushing loss, however the Giants could have a brand new kicker in Week 8. Being placed on IR before Week 4, Gano is eligible for activation from IR. It’s unclear if the veteran kicker — a steadily unavailable option in Latest York — can be able to go, though. The Giants have Younghoe Koo, whom the Falcons released earlier this season, on their practice squad. He can be the subsequent man up barring one other addition.
It’s interesting the Giants opted for McAtamney over Koo, given the latter’s experience, but he has been on the team since being signed as a part of its 2024 UDFA class. The ex-Irish Gaelic footballer kicked in a single game for the Giants last season, making a field goal and a PAT with no miss. But his profession could also be at a crossroads already after the Sunday debacle.
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.