Giants to place veteran kicker on IR

The Giants will end up using at least three primary kickers this season. Brought in to be Graham Gano‘s replacement, Randy Bullock will not make it to the finish line.

Bullock is heading to IR, per ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan. The veteran kicker sustained a hamstring injury during the Giants’ Week 15 loss to the Saints. This transaction will end his season. Bullock has kicked in the past six Giants games.

This latest Giants kicker setback will give Cade York another chance. The Giants have the former Browns draftee stashed on their practice squad, putting him in position to resume his career in Week 16. Cut by the Browns after struggling during the preseason, York has not played this season.

In signing Bullock in early November, the Giants also added York to the Titans’ practice squad. That mandated York stay on the roster for at least three weeks. Later last month, the Giants waived the second-year kicker. But he stuck around on Big Blue’s P-squad. The 2022 fourth-round pick will be set for another chance soon.

York could be auditioning for another team over the season’s final three weeks. The Giants gave Gano a three-year extension early this season, and although he underwent knee surgery recently, the veteran should remain in place as the team’s kicker for 2024. The Giants could certainly keep York around as offseason insurance, but Gano’s deal includes $11.3M guaranteed at signing.

Technically, York will be the fourth Giants kicker this year. Punter Jamie Gillan connected on a field goal in relief of Bullock in New Orleans. Bullock, 34, made 5 of 6 field goals and all 10 extra points during his second Giants stint. A one-game Giant back in 2016, Bullock spent the past two seasons with the Titans. Tennessee released him amid a February payroll purge. Bullock has kicked for seven teams over his 11-year career.