Nick Gates‘ injury last Thursday will end up having a significant impact on the lineman’s career. Giants head coach Joe Judge “couldn’t completely rule out” that Gates’ injury will end up ending his career, per ESPN’s Jordan Raanan. However, the coach “seemed hopeful” that the lineman will be able to see the field again.
“I’d be lying, if from my perspective, if I said no,” Judge replied when asked if the injury was a career-ender, via Raanan. “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 remains in a hospital in Virginia and is set to undergo further testing. The team captain posted an Instagram video that showed him walking, and Raanan writes that he “remains in good spirits despite the severity of the injury.”
The injury occurred in the first quarter of last Thursday’s loss to Washington. The lineman got tangled up with WFT defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, and it looked like teammate Daron Payne accidentally rolled over his ankle. Gates’ leg was placed in an air cast before he was carted off the field. The broadcast refused to show a replay considering the gruesome nature of the injury.
Gates was an undrafted free agent in 2018, but he’s transformed into one of the Giants’ most reliable offensive lineman. The 25-year-old started all 16 games for New York in 2020, and he was named a team captain prior to the 2021 campaign. He appeared in all 61 of the Giants’ offensive snaps during their Week 1 loss.
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