The New York Giants have placed kicker Graham Gano on injured reserve due to a hamstring injury and have signed kicker Greg Joseph from the Detroit Lions’ practice squad. In addition to this move, the Giants also claimed linebacker Patrick Johnson off waivers from the Philadelphia Eagles.
Gano, who is 37, first appeared on the injury report with a groin issue last Saturday, and he aggravated his hamstring during the opening kickoff of Sunday’s 21-18 loss to the Washington Commanders. The Giants were left without a backup kicker during the game, which led to several critical missed opportunities.
Punter Jamie Gillan missed an extra point, the team failed on a 2-point conversion attempt, and they opted not to attempt a short field goal in the fourth quarter. This series of errors contributed to the Giants becoming the second team in NFL history to lose a game while scoring three touchdowns and allowing none, with the Los Angeles Rams being the first in 1989.
Gano, who joined the Giants in 2020 after previous stints with Washington and the Carolina Panthers, was a Pro Bowl selection in 2017 with the Panthers. He had a notable performance in the Giants’ season opener against Minnesota but did not play in 2019 due to injury.
To find a replacement, the Giants auditioned four veteran kickers—Tanner Brown, Randy Bullock, Zane Gonzalez, and Riley Patterson—on Monday. They ultimately decided to sign Joseph, who had been with the Green Bay Packers during training camp before joining the Lions. Joseph, 30, had a successful three-season run with the Minnesota Vikings, where he made 24 of 30 field goals and 36 of 38 extra points in 2023. His career-long field goal of 61 yards set a Vikings franchise record and secured a 27-24 win over the Giants on December 24, 2022. Over his five NFL seasons, Joseph has converted 100 of 121 field goals and 146 of 162 extra points.
Additionally, Johnson, 26, who played for the Eagles and made 35 tackles in his three seasons with Philadelphia, was also added to the Giants’ roster.
