New York Giants kicker Graham Gano is expected to be out for “several weeks” after straining his hamstring during the opening kickoff of Sunday’s 18-21 loss to the Washington Commanders.
“He’s got a hamstring so we’ll see how he is and it looks like it’s going to be a couple weeks here,” coach Brian Daboll told reporters Monday. “We’ll train the guys, and Jude (McAtamney) has been with us, so we’ll make a decision based on the workouts. How they do in the workouts and Jude will make a decision.”
Gano, who was placed on the Giants’ injured list with a groin strain on Saturday, sprained his hamstring on the opening play while chasing Commanders kick returner Austin Ekeler down the sideline.
Ekeler scored a goal, but it was canceled out by a Washington penalty kick.
Jude McAtamney, who was added to the Giants’ 90-man roster in the offseason and is currently on the practice squad, could be one of the candidates.
Daboll was criticized for leaving McAtamney out of Sunday’s game, which was ultimately played without the kicker.
“I thought Graham was going to be OK,” Daboll said Sunday. “(Gano) got hurt chasing (the returner). It was a hamstring. It wasn’t a groin injury. It was a hamstring injury. … We thought he was OK. Every decision was mine.”
Without a kicker, the Giants went for two points on their next two conversion attempts after punter Jamie Gillen missed the first. They failed both times.
The Giants scored 18 points and trailed 21-18 in the final seconds.
