Gano damage leaves Giants and not using a kicker in loss

LANDOVER, Md. — The New York Giants had no kicker after the opening kickoff Sunday. It proved to be a significant component of their 21-18 loss to the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium.

The Giants scored three touchdowns for the sport; Washington scored none. Austin Seibert kicked seven discipline objectives for the Commanders, tied for second most in a recreation in NFL historical past.

Not having a kicker after Graham Gano pulled his hamstring attempting to chase down a returner on the opening kickoff influenced New York’s decision-making the remainder of the best way. The Giants tried just one further level with punter Jamie Gillan, who missed vast proper within the first quarter.

“Really feel unhealthy for Graham. Really feel unhealthy for us,” Giants coach Brian Daboll mentioned. “However no excuses.”

The sport was tied at 18 late within the fourth quarter with New York deep in Washington territory. However Daboll elected to go for it on fourth-and-4 from the Commanders’ 22-yard line quite than try a discipline aim with Gillan.

Gillan kicked for the Giants final yr in New Orleans and made a 40-yard discipline aim.

“We went for it there on the finish of the sport. Thought our probabilities had been good throwing it to [wide receiver] Malik [Nabers] with [quarterback] Daniel [Jones], however it was the best way we had been enjoying was higher than making a 39- or 40-yard discipline aim,” Daboll mentioned. “That is what I made a decision to do.”

The Giants had kicking issues coming into the sport. Gano was added to the damage report on Saturday with a proper groin damage. The damage Sunday was to his proper hamstring.

Daboll appeared to separate the 2 and downplay any correlation.

“He did not harm his groin, he harm his hamstring,” Daboll mentioned, earlier than including he wasn’t a health care provider and did not know if the accidents had been associated.

Gano even went into the locker room at one level throughout early warmups to have the groin wrapped. He returned and hit a 60-yard try.

“In fact it was bothering me however I used to be effective,” Gano mentioned. “I used to be hitting the ball nice, making a number of kicks. The hamstring, that is simply unhealthy luck.”

Gano tried to kick via a knee damage final season and uncharacteristically missed a pair of discipline aim makes an attempt in an additional time loss to the New York Jets. He then underwent season-ending knee surgical procedure.

The Giants nonetheless did not deem it essential to take the additional contingencies towards the Commanders. They opted towards elevating kicker Jude McAtamney from the observe squad previous to Sunday’s recreation. As a substitute, they elevated linebackers Ty Summers and Tomon Fox.

Daboll would not say whether or not the group significantly contemplated it as an possibility.

“We discuss a number of issues,” he mentioned. “We thought [Gano would] be good to go.”

He was initially. Simply not for lengthy.

The damage Sunday truly occurred as Gano tried to chase down Austin Ekeler on a 98-yard return for a landing that was negated by a penalty. It put New York at an obstacle.

The Giants (0-2) wasted what Daboll thought was a very good efficiency from his quarterback. Jones, under heavy scrutiny after a shaky Week 1 performance, threw a pair of landing passes and did not have a turnover.

It nonetheless wasn’t sufficient and not using a kicker.

“Yeah, I do not assume we’re going to make excuses,” Jones mentioned. “There have been quite a few issues we may have achieved higher and wanted to work on, however we’re not going to make excuses. There are issues we’ll work on and repair going ahead, and that is what I am targeted on.”