The New York Giants’ Week 2 Sunday’s kickoff is not off to a great start as they find themselves in limbo at a crucial position on the roster. After losing their first game of the season, the Giants are hoping they can avoid a 0-2 start. However, things did not go according to plan at the capital as the visiting team lost kicker Graham Gano to an opening quarter injury.

Well, it might not be surprising to see Gano leaving the field early as he was coming into the matchup with a groin injury. Yes, one day before the clash against the Commanders, his team added an injury report with a groin issue. Even though his game status wasn’t clarified going into the game, Gano has found himself on the floor with a hamstring injury.

This came after the Giants opted against a kickoff into the end zone. Instead, they took a touchback, thereby putting the football within the Commanders’ 2-yard line. But this plan didn’t work out the way the Giants would have thought, as RB Austin Ekeler took the bait while going in for a 98-yard TD. Gano, whose initial touchback resulted in this play, tried to pursue Ekeler.

However, it didn’t turn out the way he would have thought, as Gano ended up injuring his hamstring, thereby leaving the field early. With no update on his injury, it seems like he would be doubtful to return anytime soon. However, that 98-yard drive by Ekeler didn’t result in a touchdown as referees called for a holding penalty against them. Those few seconds turned out to be a damaging start for the Giants during their week 2 of the regular season.

With no backup kicker immediately available, punter Jamie Gillan had to take on the role of kicking duties. However, Gano’s absence would be a huge miss for the New York Giants, who broke an NFL record last week.

Graham Gano’s importance to the Giants lineup

Last week, Gano started his 15th year in the NFL by breaking the highest total of field goals record in a week. Before his 50-yard field goal against the Vikings, 21 field goals had already been scored. This eclipses the previous record of 15 field goals in week 3 of last season. Well, Gano even had a role to play in last year’s broken record when his 57-yard kick against the Niners was recorded as the longest 3-pointer in the Giants’ history.

Talking about his ability to boot the football from 50 yards with ease, the 37-year-old shared, “Kickers have become more accurate from 50-plus. As years have gone on, the specialists in general, were kind of looked at as the guys that weren’t really athletes. You could just kick a football, and I think you’re starting to see that change.” While opening up on his thoughts about mastering the art of placekicker, Gano also talked about avoiding the need to practice from long range.

“I don’t back it up too much. I know if I kick it straight, it’ll go in, barring any wind and whatnot,” Gano shared. Looking at the Giants’ kicker record over the years, he might be true, as Gano maintains a field goal percentage of 83.8% as of 2024, week 1. However, with him injured for a possible lengthy injury, the Giants would surely be missing an important player in their starting lineup. Only time will tell whether they can continue without their record-breaker veteran placekicker or fumble in that position while attempting to score field goals.