Who Should I Start? Matt Gay or Jude McAtamney

Wednesday, November 19, 7:06 PM

The San Francisco 49ers signed free-agent kicker Matt Gay to their practice squad on Wednesday and released wide receiver Russell Gage Jr. from their practice squad in a corresponding move, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Eddy Pineiro (hamstring) suffered a Grade 1 hamstring strain in the Week 11 win over the Arizona Cardinals and is not expected to be available to kick this coming Monday night against the Carolina Panthers. Gay was just waived by the Washington Commanders on Monday after missing two kicks in a three-point loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday in Madrid. The 31-year-old veteran looks like he'll be the 49ers' short-term replacement at place kicker with Pineiro injured, but fantasy managers should be looking to stay away. The seven-year veteran has been inconsistent, making 13 of his 19 field-goal tries in 10 games, including going 4-for-9 from 50-plus yards out.

Thursday, October 23, 12:37 PM

Kicker Jude McAtamney has returned to the New York Giants' practice squad on Thursday on an International Player Program exemption after the team released him earlier in the week, according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN. With regular kicker Graham Gano (groin) on Injured Reserve, McAtamney was the team's fill-in placekicker from Weeks 4-7, but he was cut this week after his two crucial missed extra points proved to be the difference in the team's 33-32 loss at the Denver Broncos on Sunday. Gano has returned to practice this week and could make his return from IR this Sunday against the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles, but if he doesn't, they have the option of elevating former Atlanta Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo from the practice squad. The 25-year-old McAtamney, who is from Northern Ireland, made both of his field-goal attempts but missed three of his 12 extra points in his four games with New York.