Agent: Giants OL Nick Gates 'will be back in blue next year'

Fans of the New York Giants were saddened and shocked to learn that head coach Joe Judge suggested on Thursday that popular undrafted offensive lineman and team captain Nick Gates may never play again following the gruesome leg fracture he suffered in the loss to the Washington Football Team last Thursday.

Some have compared Gates' injury to the one that threatened the career and life of former quarterback Alex Smith back in 2018, but Jon Perzley, Gates' agent, has since offered a positive update.

"Mark my word, Nick will be back in blue next year," Perzley explained, according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN. "While in some cases these types of injuries can be career-threatening, Nick's situation is not that. It doesn't hurt that he is the toughest guy on the planet."

Gates had surgery last Friday and has already taken his first post-procedure steps but, per Raanan, will require additional operations. The 25-year-old remains in a Virginia hospital. 

"I'd be lying, if from my perspective, if I said no," Judge previously responded when asked if Gates' injury could be career-threatening. "I know that there are some comparisons to other players. These things are all different. I know he's going to have the best medical care possible, here or elsewhere whatever we can do. So we are confident he's going to be able to come back."

Gates originally joined the Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2018 but missed that season on injured reserve. He started at center for Big Blue throughout the 2020 campaign and for this season's Week 1 game against the Denver Broncos before he was shifted to left guard for the Washington contest.