Several weeks ago, Giants special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey talked about never wanting to ride the “kicker train.’’
“Once you get on the kicker train, the destination is unknown,’’ McGaughey said then. “That kicker train is dangerous.’’
With incumbent Graham Gano out for the season with a left knee injury, McGaughey is on that train, with two kickers on the roster in Randy Bullock and Cade York, both signed last week when Gano went on IR.
Bullock played Sunday in Las Vegas, because he’s the more experienced kicker than York, who’s in his second season.
Bullock didn’t have to do much other than kick off twice.
The Giants, who went for a 2-point conversion on their only touchdown, didn’t attempt a field goal.
Thursday, McGaughey was noncommittal about which kicker will be in uniform on Sunday at Dallas, but there are signs York will get his shot.
Asked which player will kick Sunday, McGaughey said, “They’re just both working, and we’ll see where we’re at the end of the week. Who we feel the most comfortable with, who we think is the most comfortable, and just go from there.’’
York, 22 was a fourth-round draft pick by Cleveland last year He made 24 of 32 field-goal attempts last season, including four of seven from 50 or more yards.
He, too, hit 35 of 37 extra-point tries for 107 points and had touchbacks on 64 percent of his kickoffs.
After he went 4-for-8 in preseason this summer, the Browns released him.
McGaughey said he believes York’s struggles were purely mechanical issues, things he’s since sorted out.
“We’ve got to try and make the best out of his situation, and try and get him better for the time that he’s here,’’ McGaughey said. “He’s very talented. He has a very strong leg. He’s done some really good things in his career, and that’s why he’s here.’’
Giants No. 2 quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who suffered an injury to his ribs in the team’s Week 8 loss to the Jets, was in the locker room Thursday and told reporters he expects play again this season.
Taylor is on the injured reserve list and not eligible to play until a Nov. 26 home game against the Patriots. “It’s not season-ending in my mind,’’ Taylor said of his injury. “Nobody has told me that.’’
Linebacker Azeez Ojulari, who’s missed the past four games with an ankle sprain but is now off injured reserve, said Thursday he expects to be activated for the Dallas game Sunday.
Ojulari, who was on IR since suffering his injury Week 5 against the Dolphins, also missed the Week 2 and 3 games with a hamstring injury.
He had eight sacks as a rookie in 2021 and had 5.5 in just seven games last season.
Right tackle Evan Neal, who suffered a left ankle sprain Sunday in Las Vegas, almost certainly won’t play this week k. He continues to be hampered by the injury and didn’t practice Thursday.
Neal had returned to the lineup against Las Vegas after missing two games with a sprained right ankle.
The other players who didn’t practice Thursday included CB Adoree’ Jackson (concussion/neck), RB Deon Jackson (concussion), OL Sean Harlow (personal matter) and DT Dexter Lawrence (rest).
Those who were limited were WR Parris Campbell (hamstring), Ojulari (ankle), LT Andrew Thomas (hamstring) and RB Jashaun Corbin (hamstring).
After Sunday’s loss, Thomas was critical of his performance, saying he was rusty and didn’t play to his standards.
Offensive coordinator Mike Kafka on Thursday wasn’t critical of Thomas’ performance, but he sounded simply happy to have him back in the lineup after missing time with a hamstring injury.
“I don’t know if I would disagree with him, but I think he did a great job in the game,’’ Kafka said of Thomas’ performance. “It was great to have him back out there. I think the more he’s going to play, the better he’s going to look. He’s a leader, he’s a captain, he’s back in the huddle. That whole offensive line now ramps up, it’s a little bit more juice there, too. He certainly sets the tone and tempo for that group.’’