Things just keep going from bad to worse for Brian Daboll and the NY Giants. In the Week 2 loss to the Washington Commanders, Daboll and his staff trusted that kicker Graham Gano would stay healthy despite battling a groin injury throughout the week. As we all know by now, that decision backfired on the G-Men.
Gano injured his hamstring on the opening kickoff, and he was lost for the rest of the game. The Giants didn't have anyone trustworthy to kick a PAT or attempt a field goal - they lost 21-18. Daboll was defensive of his decision to not have another kicker on the roster, but now he's going to have to find someone else with Gano hurt. While speaking to the media to open the week, Daboll said the expectation is that Gano will miss multiple weeks. Goodness:
Graham Gano will miss "a few weeks here" with a hamstring injury, per Brian Daboll pic.twitter.com/kLilNJCbQ6
— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) September 16, 2024
NY Giants kicker Graham Gano will mose some games due to a hamstring injury
All this could have been prevented. Daboll pointed out that Gano hurt his hamstring trying to run after a Washington returner. Yes, we get that, but at the same time, knowing he had a groin injury, why not have Jamie Gillan do the kickoffs? Why not call up your practice squad kicker as insurance?
Again, Daboll trusted that his kicker would be healthy and now he's going to be without him for a few weeks. Not having Gano available to kick against the Commanders cost this team a win on the road. It's a brutal pill to swallow, but that's just the way it is.
With Gano now out for a little while, Daboll added that the team will bring in some veterans for workouts. We'll find out soon enough who will be signed or if Jude McAtamney will be elevated to the 53-man roster, but either move feels like it will be a week too late. Daboll's gamble with Gano was back-breaking against Washington and now it's proving to be even worse with the latest injury update.