Giants waive kicker Jude McAtamney after multiple missed extra points in meltdown loss to Broncos

The New York Giants waived kicker Jude McAtamney on Tuesday, two days after he contributed to the team’s historic collapse against the Denver Broncos by missing several extra points. McAtamney missed three extra points in two weeks, with the third and final miss helping seal the Giants’ defeat after blowing a 25-8 lead in the final minutes of Sunday’s loss at Denver.

McAtamney, a second-year pro from Northern Ireland who was an undrafted free agent out of Rutgers, joined the Giants through the NFL’s International Pathway program and was tasked with kicking duties in Week 4 after veteran Graham Gano suffered a groin injury before the game against the Kansas City Chiefs. McAtamney made two field goals in his first action against the Chargers and scored two more points a week later. He missed an extra point in Week 6 against the Philadelphia Eagles before completely collapsing against the Broncos.

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After missing an extra point early in the game, McAtamney missed again after quarterback Jaxson Dart scored a touchdown with 37 seconds left, leaving the score 32-30 and giving the Broncos the opportunity to score a game-winning field goal instead of having to settle for tying the game. McAtamney’s kicking influenced the loss in other ways as well, as his lack of range prompted the Giants to pass up their field goal attempts, and his missed extra point prompted the Giants to attempt a failed two-point conversion going up 19–0 late in the third quarter.

McAtamney’s release comes as Gano is now eligible to come off injured reserve, with the New York Post reporting that Gano will kick Tuesday to determine if he is ready to return to play. The Giants also have Younghoe Koo, who was cut by the Atlanta Falcons after missing kicks early in the season, on their practice squad.

Gano, a former Pro Bowl kicker who was among the league’s best during his early years with the Giants, has struggled with injuries since the 2023 season and has missed 20 of a possible 41 games during that stretch.

The Giants fell to 2-5 with the loss to the Broncos and will look to bounce back on the road against the Eagles on Sunday.