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New York Giants offensive lineman Nick Gates, who was voted a captain by his teammates, got pushed out to left guard on Thursday. In his place, Billy Price started at center.
Unfortunately, that change lasted only a short while as Gates suffered a gruesome leg injury against the Washington Football Team. He was immediately put in an air cast and carted to the locker-room.
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The injury was so severe that NFL Network and NBC opted not to air the replay.
The Giants later announced that Gates had suffered a fractured lower leg and was transported to Fairfax Hospital, where he would remain through the night. He will undergo surgery first thing on Friday morning.
“He is a guy that works his tail off every day and someone everyone looks to, to be a leader. It hurts to see him go down like that. I’m certainly praying for him and wishing for the best,” quarterback Daniel Jones told reporters after the game.
“Nick is a fighter. He is a captain for a reason. Obviously, I don’t know too much of what happened, but seeing him down you see the impact it had on the team. I will definitely try and make contact with him and see how he is doing,” running back Saquon Barkley added.
Head coach Joe Judge also expressed his thoughts and prayer for Gates.
“He’s an all-in team guy,” Judge said, adding that the loss was a gut-punch. “Our thoughts and prayers are with him.”
Despite the severity of his injury, the always upbeat Gates was already smiling by the time he reached the locker-room. And by the time he reached the hospital, he was already thinking about his return.
That return will not come until next season, however. And after placing guard Shane Lemieux (knee) on injured reserve earlier on Thursday, the Giants’ already thin offensive line depth got that much thinner — now down two starters and one captain.
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