Tag: Nick Gates

Giants injury report: Mike Remmers, Corey Ballentine not practicing

New York Giants RT Mike Remmers and rookie CB Corey Ballentine were not practicing on Thursday.

The New York Giants returned to East Rutherford on Thursday after a short holiday break, and got right back to practice as they prepare for a season-ending showdown with the Philadelphia Eagles.

The team released a projected injury report on Wednesday that did not reflect well, listing four players as “did not participate” and another four as “limited participant.”

Things were a bit more encouraging on Thursday as only two players — right tackle Mike Remmers (concussion) and cornerback Corey Ballentine (back) — were not participating during the portion of practice open to the media.

Linebackers Alec Ogletree (back) and Lorenzo Carter (knee) were warming up, but may turn out to be limited. Additionally, rookie cornerback DeAndre Backer (knee) and tight end Scott Simonson (concussion) were added to the injury report.

The official injury report with designations released by the Giants can be found below:

Did not participate: RT Mike Remmers (concussion), CB Corey Ballentine (back)

Limited participant: CB DeAndre Baker (knee), CB Sam Beal (shoulder), LB Lorenzo Carter (knee), TE Rhett Ellison (concussion), OL Nick Gates (shoulder), LB Alec Ogletree (back), TE Scott Simonson (concussion), WR Darius Slayton (knee)

Full participant: N/A

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Giants injury report: Mike Remmers, seven others banged up

The New York Giants released a projected injury report on Wednesday and eight players were listed, including RT Mike Remmers.

The New York Giants held a walkthrough that was not open to the media on Tuesday, giving players and coaches the day off on Christmas Day instead.

Not so for us reporters.

Despite the building in East Rutherford being empty, the Giants released a projected Wednesday injury report, summoning those of us who cover the team back to our tablets and laptops.

Unfortunately for the Giants, said injury report was not very merry with eight players listed in total, four of whom were projected non-participants.

Among them was right tackle Mike Remmers, who left a Week 16 win over the Washington Redskins with a concussion, and linebacker Alec Ogletree, who suffered back injury before even taking the field last Sunday.

Additionally, rookie cornerback Corey Ballentine is now listed with a back injury, while linebacker Lorenzo Carter, who had a career day against the Skins, was also added to the injury report with a knee injury.

Four others were projected as limited, including reserve offensive lineman Nick Gates, who is listed with a shoulder injury.

The entire projected injury report released by the Giants can be found below:

Did not participate: CB Corey Ballentine (back), OT Mike Remmers (concussion), LB Alec Ogletree (back) and LB Lorenzo Carter (knee).

Limited participant: OL Nick Gates (shoulder), TE Rhett Ellison (concussion/non-contact), CB Sam Beal (shoulder) and WR Darius Slayton (knee).

Full participant: N/A

The Giants will return to practice on Thursday ahead of a Week 17 matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium.

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Nick Gates proving to be a valuable asset for Giants

He can play tackle, he can play guard and OL Nick Gates may be a long-term answer for the New York Giants.

New York Giants offensive lineman Nick Gates has been in the building for two seasons now. He was an undrafted free agent out of Nebraska in 2018 who spent his rookie season on injured reserve.

When he got to camp this year, Gates was a dark horse to crack the roster, but he did after an impressive summer and has been serving primarily as a sing lineman all season for Big Blue.

Gates is versatile, as illustrated in his ability to play both tackle and guard. In Week 10 against the New York Jets, Gates played all 69 offensive snaps at right tackle in filling in for the injured Mike Remmers.

This past week versus Miami Gates subbed for Kevin Zeitler, the right guard, again starting and playing very snap. His had coach was pleased with his performance.

“He did a nice job, and I’m not surprised by it,” said Pat Shurmur on his Monday conference call.  “When he played against the Jets, his man didn’t touch the quarterback, he was productive in the run game, and he played at tackle. He went and played guard this week for (Kevin) Zeitler and had a very, very productive game.

“He’s a good, solid football player. He’s a little bit like (Sam) Beal, he’s here for the second year, but last year was like year zero because he was hurt, and he’s done a good job. He’s a steady performer and he’s got a bright future.”

Every team finds productive players in the UDFA market bu the Giants haven’t been so lucky the past few seasons. The 6-foot-6, 318 -pound Gates was a fine a pickup it appears and his emergence means that there’s one less hole to fill on this Giants’ roster that is full of them.

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PFF: Sterling Shepard, Nick Gates highest-graded Giants in Week 15

New York Giants WR Sterling Shepard and OL Nick Gates were the team’s highest-graded players courtesy of PFF in Week 15.

The New York Giants finally broke their lengthy losing streak on Sunday, defeating the Miami Dolphins, 36-20, in what may turn out to be Eli Manning’s last ever game.

Unfortunately for Manning, who had three interceptions, he was not among the team’s highest-graded players courtesy of Pro Football Focus, although he should tip his cap to wide receiver Sterling Shepard, who was.

Shepard played exceptionally well after a rough start that included a brutal drop that not only cost the Giants a first down, but potentially cost the team points. However, he rounded nicely and became a critical target for Manning in the second half.

Manning should also tip his cap to reserve offensive lineman Nick Gates, who filled in for an injured Kevin Zeitler (ankle) and played above expectations — something he’s making a habit of.

On the defensive side of the ball, defensive linemen Dexter Lawrence and Dalvtin Tomlinson stood out, each earning PFF grades of 82.

Lawrence got an addition shout-out in the ReFocused segment alongside rookie cornerback DeAndre Baker, who has placed noticeably better of late.

Rookie defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence had one of the best games of his young career against Miami. Lawrence collapsed the pocket on multiple times and wreaked havoc in the middle of the Dolphins offensive line. In addition, while he did not record a sack in the game, he made his presence felt in rushing the passer as well.

Rookie cornerback DeAndre Baker continued his recent form and played well against the Dolphins. Baker got the best of Miami wide receiver DeVante Parker and also made multiple pass breakups on the day.

A quality showing by several up-and-coming Giants in Week 15.

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Giants’ Nick Gates hoping to build on strong debut

New York Giants OL Nick Gates is hoping to build on his strong debut and believes he could help the team going forward.

One start into his career, New York Giants offensive lineman Nick Gates is being talked about as a future piece on the line as one of general manager Dave Gettleman’s “hog mollies.”

Gates started last Sunday’s game against the New York Jets at right tackle in place of the injured Mike Remmers (back) and played well for the most part. He is what is known as a swing lineman, which means he works out at more than one position which adds to his value.

In training camp, Gates played both tackle and guard and last week, with Jon Halapio out, he was taking some reps at center just in case the Giants needed him in a pinch.

Unlike Eric Smith, who entered the game in the first half to spell left tackle Nate Solder, who was knocked from the game with a concussion, Gates had the benefit of a full training camp. In fact, Gates has been in the building for two years and does not consider himself a rookie.

“Listen, he’s a tough, competitive guy,” head coach Pat Shurmur said of Gates. “We were looking forward to seeing him play because we feel like he has a chance to be a good player. He battled. One thing about Nick Gates, he’s tough, he’s competitive and he tries to do things the right way. He had a lot of really good plays out there.”

The Giants signed Gates as an undrafted free agent out of Nebraska after the 2018 NFL Draft. He did not make the 53-man roster out of camp. He was placed on injured reserve and missed the season. This year, he impressed to the point where the Giants could not ignore him and made the 53-man roster.

“I think just communicating and being on the same page is big,” said quarterback Daniel Jones on how things will work with Gates and Smith at tackle. “I thought those guys stepped up and played well on Sunday for us. We have a lot of confidence in them. Just to communicate and be on the same page going into the game, I think we’ll feel confident with whoever is out there.”

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Could Nick Gates be the answer at right tackle for the Giants?

Nick Gates, an undrafted free agent offensive tackle out of Nebraska in 2018, has played his way into the starting lineup for the New York Giants.

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Nick Gates made his first NFL start for the New York Giants on Sunday when he filled in for the injured Mike Remmers at right tackle. Gates has been a Giant since last spring when they signed him as an undrafted free agent out of Nebraska.

The 6-foot-6, 318-pound Gates spent his rookie season on injured reserve and made the team out of camp this season after an impressive showing at training camp and in preseason games. He basically was added to the roster as depth until general manager Dave Gettleman can fill out the offensive line with some his beloved “hog mollies”.

But Gates might end up being one of those hog mollies. He had a decent showing against the Jets on Sunday and the Giants might keep him in the starting lineup for the remainder of the season with Nate Solder going through the concussion protocol and Remmers dealing with a back issue.

“I thought he played well,” Shurmur said. “Listen, he’s a tough, competitive guy. We were looking forward to seeing him play because we feel like he has a chance to be a good player. He battled. One thing about Nick Gates, he’s tough, he’s competitive and he tries to do things the right way. He had a lot of really good plays out there.”

Gates went undrafted in 2018 for a reason. He wasn’t deemed physically gifted enough for a team to burn a draft pick on. But how many times have we heard this story over the years? Here is what Rotoworld.com had to say about Gates last year:

“Gates turned pro as a redshirt junior after making 35 career starts, moving from right tackle to left tackle for his final two seasons. He only earned honorable mention All-Big Ten in 2017. Short armed (32″) and a lowly second-percentile SPARQ athlete, Gates isn’t built to play tackle in the NFL and isn’t a good enough blocker to excel inside.”

That’s pretty damning analysis. It did not keep the Giants from extending a flier on him last April. Since then, Gates has done the rest. The Giants aren’t deep on the offensive line and the hard-working Gates has played his way into their plans. For the short term, anyway.

“What I like about Nick Gates as a player is, first of all, he’s a tough guy, he plays with athleticism and balance,” offensive line coach Hal Hunter said last week. “He’s a conceptual player, he kind of does everything you ask him to do. I like everything about him. I think he’s got the mental makeup and he’s got some physical tools. What he needs the most, as any young player, he needs to play more. He needs to play. What he did in the preseason, and all of the different positions he played– he played all five positions in the preseason. He shows a lot of promise, and I’m glad we have him.”

Players surprise all the time. The Giants are hoping they mined a gem here with Gates.