In the first, albeit small, sign of change after the firing of former head coach Brian Daboll the New York Giants are reportedly signing left-footed rookie placekicker Ben Sauls to their practice squad.
After the Giants worked out Sauls last week in the wake of the latest injury to Graham Gano, Daboll had said “probably not” when asked if the Giants would sign Sauls following the workout.
With the 38-year-old Gano battling injuries for the third consecutive season, the Giants kicking situation has been a mess.
Gano has now missed five games. Punter Jamie Gillan missed an extra point filling in for Gano when he was injured right before kickoff against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 3. Gillan also struggled on kickoffs last Sunday against the Chicago Bears, hitting one out of bounds and one that missed the landing zone.
Jude McAtamney replaced Gano and was waived after missing three extra points in a two-week span.
With Gano ailing for the second time this season, now with a neck injury, veteran placekicker Younghoe Koo was elevated from the practice squad last week. Koo made two extra points, two short field goals and took over kickoff duties from the struggling Gillan.
Gano is still on the 53-man roster. Sauls, McAtamney and Koo are all on the practice squad.
Sauls was recently cut from the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad. During the preseason Sauls made all four of his field-goal attempts for the Steelers, including one from beyond 50 yards.
In 53 collegiate games at Pitt, Sauls made 122 of 124 extra points (98.2%) and 52 of 64 field-goal attempts (81.2%).
