The New York Giants continued their season-long kicking instability by waiving veteran Younghoe Koo on Tuesday, closing the book on yet another short-lived experiment at the position.
Koo, a 31-year-old North Jersey native with eight years of NFL experience, appeared in five games after being elevated from the practice squad. He converted only four of six field-goal attempts (66.7%) and 11 of 12 extra points.
His tenure ended after a frustrating Week 15 loss to the Washington Commanders, where he missed 51- and 52-yard attempts into the wind. The previous week, a botched snap exchange involving Jamie Gillan — where Koo drilled his foot into the turf — contributed to Gillan’s subsequent injury that sidelined him against Washington.
Koo had originally joined the Giants’ practice squad early in the season after his release from the Atlanta Falcons. He stepped in when veteran Graham Gano suffered a season-ending neck injury following an earlier return from a groin issue.
Before Koo, undrafted second-year kicker Jude McAtamney handled four games but was waived after missing three extra points in two weeks. The Giants have now cycled through four primary kickers this season (Gano, McAtamney, Koo, and soon a fourth), continuing a troubling trend — seven different specialists have attempted field goals or PATs over the past three years.
With Koo gone, undrafted rookie Ben Sauls — a left-footed kicker from Pittsburgh added to the practice squad in early November — is expected to be elevated for his NFL debut in Week 16 against the Minnesota Vikings.
Sauls converted 81.3% of his college field goals but has yet to kick in a regular-season game.
In other moves, the Giants claimed outside linebacker Caleb Murphy off waivers from the New England Patriots to fill the open roster spot and re-signed cornerback Jarrick Bernard-Converse to the practice squad.
Additionally, the team opened the practice window for offensive tackle Evan Neal, the 2022 No. 7 overall pick. While Neal will return to practice, it is considered highly unlikely he will play again before hitting free agency.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: New York Giants waive embattled kicker Younghoe Koo
Reporting by Dan Benton, Giants Wire / Giants Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
