Giants Turn to Younghoe Koo Amid Gano’s Injury
Younghoe Koo might just find himself as the next kicker in the Giants’ ongoing shuffle. With Graham Gano sidelined due to a neck injury and not participating in practice, head coach Brian Daboll announced that Koo is set to step in for Sunday’s match against the Bears.
This decision puts to rest any rumors about the Giants possibly bringing Jude McAtamny back to fill in for Gano, who had previously substituted for four games earlier this season.
“We’re preparing Koo, and if he has to take the reins, he will,” Daboll stated.
On Monday, Gano reported a “sore neck” but didn’t raise any concerns during Sunday’s game.
Gano recently missed a crucial 45-yard kick in his second outing back from injured reserve, following a groin issue. After the defeat to the 49ers, he asserted his track record in an interview, emphasizing that he’s only missed three kicks in the last two years (18 out of 21 field goals and 24 out of 25 PATs).
Yet, the bigger picture isn’t so rosy. He has missed 20 contests over the last three years and played through injuries in a couple of games, affecting the team’s performance in crucial moments.
“The only thing I really miss is the warmups,” Gano expressed. “I’ve got to make that kick. My role is to kick, and I believe I’ve been quite good at it.”
The Giants have no plans to recall McAtamny, who’s currently on the practice squad due to an international roster exemption. He struggled during his last appearance, missing three PATs including two in a narrow loss to the Broncos.
Koo was let go by the Falcons after performing 2-for-3 in Week 1 but has maintained an 85.8% accuracy rate over his eight-season career.
“Koo has shown he’s capable, and we’re confident he can perform well,” said special teams coordinator Michael Ghobrial. “He’s experienced playing in various stadiums, and we’ve been working closely with him to ensure everything is in sync. It’s about consistency, and we’ve seen that from him.”
If Koo does take to the field, he’ll be the seventh player to attempt a PAT or field goal for the Giants in the last three years.
