Giants Coach Says Team Captain May Have Suffered Career-Ending Leg Injury

First-year captain and starting lineman for the New York Giants, Nick Gates, is undergoing multiple surgeries to repair a fractured leg he sustained in Week 2.

Gates went down in the first quarter of a Thursday night matchup against division rival Washington, and was carted off the field after a huddle of Giants players watched a season-ending injury leave them one lineman and captain short.

Gates underwent a second leg procedure on Thursday, and reporters then asked head coach Joe Judge about his progress and whether the gruesome injury could cost the 25-year-old Giant his career.

Judge was candid in his response:

"I'd be lying, from my perspective, if I said no. I know there's comparisons to other players, these things are all different. I know he's going to have the best medical care possible, so we're confident he's going to be able to come back. My fear, for any guy who has something like this, is yes, it can be career-ending."

Gates was a top breakout candidate for the G-Men after he was announced as the starting center and team captain. Offensive line talent has been the weak point of this team for years and had lately been trying to improve their quarterback protection — with little success to show for it.

In 2018, the team signed long-time New England Patriot Nate Solder to a four-year, $62 million deal to bolster the left tackle position. Solder's inability to keep up with edge rushers has sunk New York's offense since his signing, and top drafts picks like Andrew Thomas and Will Hernandez have fallen short of expectations.

Gates went undrafted out of Nebraska and started all of the 2020-21 season without allowing a sack of QB Daniel Jones all year.

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