The New York Giants face a pivotal opportunity to even their record against the Cincinnati Bengals on “Sunday Night Football,” a game that could establish their credibility in the league.
In the absence of Saquon Barkley this offseason, the Giants’ offense has performed reasonably well over their first five games, while their defense has managed to limit opponents to fewer than 21 points in every game since Week 1.
However, Week 6 will bring a obvious shift in the special teams unit. Punter Matt Haack has been signed to the 53-man roster and is expected to take over punting duties against the Bengals, as reported by Doug Rush of FanSided.
“Jamie Gillan will not be punting due to a hamstring injury. It’s unclear if he will head to IR,” Rush noted on X. Previously, Haack has played for the Miami Dolphins, Indianapolis Colts, and Buffalo Bills, and he appeared in one game for the Cleveland Browns last season.
Before last year, he was a reliable presence who had not missed a game in the first six seasons of his NFL career. His previous stint ended when the Arizona Cardinals cut him, leading him to spend most of last season on Cleveland’s practice squad.
Gillan, who has served as the Giants’ punter for the past three seasons, will miss his first game this week. This season, he has achieved a career-high average of 47.8 yards per punt, and ideally, if things go as planned for the Giants, Haack won’t have to be called upon frequently against the Bengals.