Opportunity knocked, and Jude McAtamney kicked it through the uprights.
When the Giants signed Younghoe Koo to their practice squad last week, it was easy to assume the former Pro Bowler was going to get the first shot at replacing injured veteran Graham Gano.
But McAtamney — in his second year on the Giants practice squad through the NFL International Pathways Program — edged Koo in a practice-week competition.
“Jude, just having been here, understood the operation time a little bit more, and we just felt like he gave us the best chance to win,” special teams coordinator Michael Ghobrial said.
Instead of being insulted that the Giants didn’t hand him the job as next in line, McAtamney stated his case by connecting on two field goals and a PAT in a win against the Chargers.
“Younghoe has played in the league for eight years, so my mindset was, ‘Worse comes to worst, I learn something from him,’ ” McAtamney said. “I’m happy he’s here. Competitively, he makes me better and vice versa. We feed off each other.”
Was his performance enough to retain the job this week against the Saints?
“Although Jude did a really nice job for us and excelled with everything we were asking him to do,” Ghobrial said, “I think ultimately, you still treat that like a competition.”
The Ireland native by way of Rutgers made his NFL debut last season. But he hasn’t yet kicked on the road, and the Superdome can be intimidating.
Koo is 24-for-30 on field goals in domes during his career.
“I’ve kicked in stadiums that have been really loud before — 100,000-plus people at Ohio State and Michigan,” McAtamney said. “I haven’t experienced the dome effect. I understand it gets loud in there, but I have to stick to my process. I still control my ability.”
The Giants bypassed a 58-yard field goal attempt to punt against the Chargers, but McAtamney said that was more about the game circumstances.
“I’ve hit 60s in practice, and we all move it back to 55 in pregame, but my 55 was good from 65,” McAtamney said. “I have that in me.”
LT Andrew Thomas (foot/rest) was placed back on the injury report as limited. Wednesday was his first day of the season not listed.
RG Greg Van Roten returned to practice after a rest day.
One big concern on a lengthy injury report is that Tyler Nubin (groin), Jevon Holland (neck/calf) and Dane Belton (shoulder) are all limited. That’s the top three safeties.
“It might take until Sunday morning to figure out who’s going to be up,” defensive coordinator Shane Bowen said.
Where do the Giants turn next? Special-teamer Beau Brade (who was added Week 1), practice squad elevation Raheem Layne or hybrid cornerback-safety Nic Jones?
“Spending time with those guys, making sure they know the game plan,” Bowen said. “As a coaching staff, we have to have contingency plans for all that stuff.”
Offensive coordinator Mike Kafka credited offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo, tight ends coach Tim Kelly and running backs coach Ladell Betts for thinking up “a nice play” on the 3-yard shovel-pass touchdown to Theo Johnson.
It looked like Kafka — a former Chiefs coach — might have ripped it out of the playbook for Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
