New York Giants set to debut new kicker with special quirk NFL hasn’t seen in seven years

THE NEW YORK GIANTS are turning to an unlikely new hero in a desperate bid to end their miserable run.

Rookie kicker Ben Sauls set to make his NFL debut.

Sign up for the Sport newsletter

Thank you!

Ben Sauls in action last year playing for the Pittsburgh Panthers preparing to kickCredit: Getty

Younghoe Koo reacts as he misses a field goal against the Washington Commanders last weekCredit: AP

If the Giants need points on Sunday, they may well be calling Sauls as he prepares for his first appearance in the league against the Minnesota Vikings.

The 24-year-old is left-footed, something the NFL has not seen in a regular-season game for seven years, since Sebastian Janikowski last played in 2018.

Sauls was signed to the Giants’ practice squad on November 11 after being released by the Atlanta Falcons just six weeks after joining their practice setup.

Now, with veteran South Korean kicker Younghoe Koo shown the door earlier this week, Sauls is in line for a shock promotion and could finally make his long-awaited Giants debut.

The timing could not be bigger for New York as the Giants have not won a game since October 9, when they beat the Philadelphia Eagles 34-17, and have since lost eight straight games.

Minnesota, meanwhile, have dominated this fixture – winning the last five meetings between the sides.

That leaves Sauls hoping he can be the unlikely answer to stop the rot.

Speaking ahead of the game, the former Pitt college star admitted he is embracing the pressure.

Most read in American Football

He is also embracingthe challenge of kicking at MetLife Stadium, which is known to be difficult for kickers.

He said: “I’m proud to represent the lefties.

“When I first got here, I got to kick in MetLife a little bit, and then this week we went back over to get some reps and read the conditions.

“Wednesday was pretty similar to how the weather’s supposed to be on Sunday, so it was good to get a feel.”

Sauls also admitted the occasion is still sinking in.

He added: “You have to stay calm and collected, because the excitement will come out on game day.

“This is my first year and getting the chance to actually play on a Sunday — that’s the goal when you’re in college.

“There are only 32 of these jobs in the world, so I feel extremely lucky. I just want to show people what I can do.”

Jaxson Dart of the New York Giants warms up prior to the game against the Minnesota VikingsCredit: Getty

The New York Giants are hoping to stop the rot todayCredit: Getty

Sauls showed his potential in college when he drilled a 58-yard field goal for Pitt in 2024 – a kick that helped put him on NFL radars.

If he plays, he will become the eighth kicker used by the Giants since the start of 2023 and the fourth different kicker this season alone, highlighting the club’s ongoing struggles.

The Giants will also be without several key players on Sunday, with Kayvon Thibodeaux, Evan Neal and Rakeem Nuñez-Roches among those ruled out.

But the focus is clear – end the losing streak and their poor recent record against the Vikings, and hope a left-footed rookie can provide a much-needed spark.