After dropping three straight, the New York Giants are shaking things up. Quarterback Russell Wilson already lost his starting spot, and now there’s a change at kicker as they head into a tough matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers. Kicker Graham Gano is placed on injured reserve for a groin issue, opening the door for kicker Jude McAtamney, who’s been elevated from the practice squad.

The Giants could’ve selected veteran kicker Younghoe Koo, who has experience with the team, but coach Brian Daboll decided to give a chance to McAtamney. The young kicker’s resume is short, just one NFL game, where he notched up a 31-yard field goal and an extra point, but now the Giants will count on him to step up in Week 4 to avoid a 0-4.

After signing with the Giants as an undrafted free agent, his debut was against the Washington Commanders on November 3, 2024. Since then, he hasn’t had many opportunities to showcase his potential. In January 2025, he signed a reserve/future contract with the team. However, on August 26, 2025, he was released during final roster cuts, only to rejoin the Giants the following day on the practice squad.

The Northern Ireland native was signed through the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program. With Gano expected to miss at least 4–5 games, his replacement will have plenty of opportunities to show his potential. If he performs better than before, McAtamney could receive offers from other teams, even if the Giants do not consider him for the active roster after Gano returns.

The decision comes after a lengthy battle between McAtamney and Koo, in which the latter had a stronger chance of winning the position. The eight-year veteran has played 93 regular-season games. He has made 85.8 percent of his field-goal attempts, including a perfect 52-for-52 inside 30 yards and 52-of-56 from 30–39 yards. And these numbers speak volumes about the 2020 Pro Bowler. Despite the skill and experience, Koo’s performance with the Falcons was underwhelming.

After missing a 44-yard field goal in the final seconds of a 23–20 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Falcons benched him while seeking new options. He was eventually cut after his replacement, kicker Parker Romo, showed promising potential. This saw the kicker to join the Giants.

This is a developing story…