NY Giants’ Graham Gano returns to team after positive COVID-test | Will he play vs. Bengals?

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 04: Graham Gano #5 of the New York Giants reacts to his field goal with Riley Dixon #9, to trail 7-6 to the Los Angeles Rams, during the first half at SoFi Stadium on October 04, 2020 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 04: Graham Gano #5 of the New York Giants reacts to his field goal with Riley Dixon #9, to trail 7-6 to the Los Angeles Rams, during the first half at SoFi Stadium on October 04, 2020 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

NY Giants kicker Graham Gano returned to the team this week after testing positive for COVID-19 last week

Graham Gano returned to the team after testing positive for COVID-19 last week, and the NY Giants’ kicker has a chance to return for Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

“We should get to see him out there at practice kicking today,” NY Giants head coach Joe Judge said prior to Friday’s practice. “He was working on the side independently with trainers yesterday swinging his leg a little bit. I just asked him how he felt today, and he said he ‘felt good, overall,’ I just have to see how sore he may be and obviously see him.”

Judge says he is “very optimistic” that Gano will be able to return Sunday.

Gano spent his time in quarantine practicing kicking into a net at his hotel room, but the effectiveness might not have been up to Judge’s  standards.

“He obviously wasn’t backing up too far in that hotel room to test his range,” Judge said. “We’ll have him moving around today if we’re allowed to.”

The Giants play the Bengals on Sunday afternoon in Week 12 action, with a chance to move into first place in the NFC East.

Matt Lombardo is the site expert for GMenHQ, and writes Between The Hash Marks each Wednesday for FanSided. Follow Matt on Twitter: @MattLombardoNFL.

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