Former Derry Under-20s star Jude McAtamney is in line to make his NFL debut on Sunday after the New York Giants’ regular kicker Greg Joseph was ruled out due to injury.
The South African suffered an oblique injury in practice and has been listed as out for the Giants’ clash with the Washington Commanders, leaving McAtamney as their only option.
The Swatragh man is only on the Giants’ practice squad – essentially their reserve team – but is the next man in line to step up for Brian Daboll’s side and is set to become the first Northern Irishman to play an NFL regular season game.
There is the possibility that the Giants look to free agency and sign a more experienced option but, in the event that they don’t, McAtamney will make his first NFL start on Sunday.
While it is good fortune for McAtamney, New York will be cursing their luck having lost two kickers to injury this season, regular starter Graham Gano hurting his hamstring in Week Two and now Joseph going down hurt.
McAtamney came through the college system in the United States, initially with Chowan University and then with Rutgers before impressing at this year’s NFL Combine where he landed all ten of his kicks in front of evaluators from every professional team.
That led to the 24-year-old being picked up by the Giants, although he wasn’t able to shift veteran Gano, who was always likely to hold onto the starter’s job given his sizeable contract in New York.
There was disappointment when he was overlooked to step up in Gano’s absence after he strained his hamstring in Week Two, with the Giants instead picking up Joseph to take on the role.
Now, however, he has a chance to impress Daboll in game action, and he will hope to take it at MetLife Stadium on Sunday.