Giants sign kicker Greg Joseph; Graham Gano placed on IR

The New York Giants today signed veteran kicker Greg Joseph off the Detroit Lions’ practice squad and placed Graham Gano on injured reserve. The team also claimed linebacker Patrick Johnson off waivers from the Eagles.

In 67 regular-season games for three teams, Joseph has made 100 of 121 career field goal attempts (82.6 percent) with a long of 61 yards. He has also made 146 of 162 extra point attempts (90.1). By distance, he is 100 percent from inside 30 yards; 32 of 33 (97.0 percent) from 30-39 yards; 22 of 30 (73.3 percent) from 40-49 yards; and 16 of 28 (57.1 percent) from 50 yards or more.

His career numbers also include 244 touchbacks on 338 kickoffs (72.2 percent).

In 2023, he converted 24 of 30 (80.0 percent) field goal attempts with a long of 54 yards and 36 of 38 (94.7 percent) extra point attempts for the Vikings. Joseph spent three seasons with Minnesota and set the franchise record with a 61-yard field goal as time expired in a 27-24 victory over the Giants on Dec. 24, 2022.

Joseph has also kicked in four postseason games (three with the Titans and one with the Vikings) and made both of his field goal attempts and all 12 of his extra point attempts.

He made his NFL debut in 2018 with the Browns, whom the Giants face on the road in Week 3.

Joseph went undrafted out of Florida Atlantic in 2018 after setting the program record in points and field goals. Joseph was born in South Africa and lived there before moving to the United States at age 7 with his family.

Gano suffered an injury to his right hamstring chasing Austin Ekeler on the opening kickoff of Sunday’s game against the Commanders.

The Giants turned to punter Jamie Gillan, who kicked a 40-yard field goal last year in New Orleans. But after he hooked his first extra point try, coach Brian Daboll attempted no more PATs and never tried a field goal.

The Eagles selected Johnson in the seventh round (No. 234) of the 2021 NFL Draft. Johnson spent the last three seasons in Philadelphia and appeared in the 2024 season opener before being waived ahead of their Week 2 game against the Falcons.

The 6-foot-2, 248-pound linebacker played a total of 49 games with two starts for the Eagles and registered 35 tackles (23 solo), one tackle for loss, three quarterback hits, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. He has played significant snaps on special teams over the last few seasons.

Prior to being drafted, Johnson played four seasons at Tulane, where he finished as the program’s all-time leader in sacks with 24.5. He led the nation with 10 sacks in his senior season and earned first-team All-AAC honors. Johnson was also named second-team All-AAC in 2018 and 2019, and became just the third player in Tulane history to earn All-AAC honors in three seasons.