Graham Gano is dealing with a neck injury that could keep him off the field and a torrent of abuse that too often follows him off it.
The Giants’ veteran kicker said Thursday he’s been diagnosed with a herniated disc that is pressing against his spinal cord.
“Had some nerve stuff going on,” Gano said. “Then went to the doctor and he said it was a herniated disc in my neck. … I had an injection yesterday on my spine. Hopefully that will start helping out.”
The 38-year-old said that he’s also been absorbing death threats from fans, with the Giants and NFL security having tracked threatening messages for over three years. He says the abuse spiked again after last Sunday’s loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Gano split two field-goal attempts in the game, missing from 45 yards shortly before halftime.
“I hear everyone else’s frustration, media, fans. I mean, shoot, ever since sports betting started happening, I get people telling me to kill myself every week,” Gano said. “Because I’ll hit a kick that loses them money. I’ll miss a kick, and it loses them money. It was the other day somebody told me to get cancer and die. I mean, that stuff’s part of it.”
The back issue flared after he kicked against San Francisco. He initially chalked up the discomfort to sleeping awkwardly, then aggravated it lifting on Monday. He received an injection and did not practice Wednesday or Thursday. If he can’t go against the Bears, veteran Younghoe Koo would handle kicks.
Health setbacks have piled up for Gano across three straight seasons, including an IR stint earlier this year for a groin injury. The run of misfortune has made him an easy target.
“I really don’t respond,” Gano said. “If I start seeing that stuff, I just shut it off… I’ve gotten thick skin over the years.”
Gano has made 9 of 10 field goal attempts in five games this season. For his career, he has connected on 342 of 408 field goals (83.8 percent) in 207 games.
