The New York Giants’ kicking carousel keeps spinning, and the latest move sees veteran Younghoe Koo stepping off.
Koo was waived following a rough outing in Sunday’s loss to the Washington Commanders, where he missed a pair of 51-yard field goal attempts-both well off the mark. It was a tough follow-up to the previous week, when a bobbled snap by holder Jamie Gillan prevented Koo from attempting a kick. That sequence ended with Gillan getting injured, sidelining him for the Washington game.
The Giants brought in Koo earlier this season after he was released by the Atlanta Falcons, hoping his experience could stabilize the position following Graham Gano’s groin injury. But instead of immediately turning to Koo, the team initially rolled with second-year kicker Jude McAtamney, a relatively untested option.
That gamble didn’t pay off. McAtamney missed three extra points over two games and was eventually waived. Gano returned briefly, but a season-ending neck injury forced the Giants to dip back into the well-and that’s when Koo got his shot.
In five games with New York, Koo went 4-for-6 on field goals and 11-for-12 on extra points. Not disastrous, but not enough to lock down the job, especially with consistency being such a premium at that position.
With Koo now out, the Giants appear to be turning toward rookie Ben Sauls. The left-footed kicker out of Pitt has been on the practice squad since early November, and all signs point to him making his NFL debut this Sunday against the Vikings. It’s a big moment for Sauls, and the Giants are clearly hoping he can bring some much-needed stability to a position that’s been anything but steady this season.
In a separate roster move, the Giants claimed outside linebacker Caleb Murphy off waivers. He fills the spot vacated by Koo and adds some depth to a defense that’s been dealing with its own share of injuries and inconsistencies.
There’s also a bit of good news on the offensive line. Guard Evan Neal, who’s been on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, was designated to return. That opens his 21-day practice window, giving the Giants a chance to get him back on the field before the season wraps up.
All told, it’s been a season of shuffle and patchwork for the Giants, especially on special teams. But with Sauls potentially stepping into the spotlight and Neal inching closer to a return, there’s at least a glimmer of hope that some pieces might start to settle into place.