EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Nick Gates took another significant step in his remarkable comeback when he was added to the Giants' active roster.
Officially, Gates was activated from the reserve/physically unable to perform list. Wednesday was the deadline for the Giants to either place him on the roster or keep him on PUP for the remainder of the season. But since first practicing on Oct. 5, Gates has proven to the coaches he can play. And after two offensive linemen were injured three days ago at Jacksonville, the Giants need him.
Gates is eligible to make his 2022 debut in Seattle on Sunday, 410 days after suffering what was thought to be a potentially career-ending injury to his left leg.
"We'll put him out there," coach Brian Daboll said. "I think he's improved every day since he's been out there. He looks ready to go. We'll see where that takes him. Just keep competing; whenever his number's called, be ready."
Gates has started 21 games in his career - 17 at center, two at right tackle at one at each guard position. Daboll said Gates has worked at both guard and center since his return to the field.
In the victory against the Jaguars, left guard Ben Bredeson and right tackle Evan Neal suffered knee injuries. Neither player practiced today.
"Gates can play all spots, but we've really worked him more at center and guard getting back here," Daboll said. "I know he played tackle."
It wasn't long ago that Gates was a mainstay on the Giants' offensive line. In 2020, he started all 16 games at center and was one of just five Giants to start every game.
Last year, he started the season opener at center, but moved to left guard in Week 2 after Shane Lemieux was sidelined with a knee injury. Late in the first quarter at Washington, Gates' left leg got tangled up with other players and he went down with an injury that was routinely called "gruesome." He fractured both his fibula and tibia, and subsequently underwent seven surgeries.
Gates tirelessly rehabilitated to return to the field, not knowing whether the leg would improve enough for him to play or if Daboll and his coaching staff would find a spot for him.
"Impressive," Daboll said of Gates' comeback. "I mean, so many surgeries and so much rehab. You saw him when I first got here. Just a testament to the young man. It takes a lot of perseverance to go through what he's been through and to be out here. Impressive young man."
There's no guarantee Gates will start or even play against the Seahawks. When Bredeson was forced from the game in the first quarter, rookie third-round draft choice Joshua Ezeudu stepped in and played 61 of the team's 77 offensive snaps at left guard.
Daboll said Ezeudu has improved, "every aspect of his game. You don't see it, obviously, when he's not playing. But each week, he gets a little better on the show teams. He does a good job in individual (drills). Still a young player. Still got a long way to go. But I think (offensive line coach) Bobby (Johnson) and (assistant line coach) Tony (Sparano, Jr.) have done a good job. And credit to Josh; he's done a good job on keeping his eye on just getting better day-by-day."
View photos of Giants offensive lineman Nick Gates throughout his NFL career.
Daniel Jones (8), Nick Gates (65), Tyrod Taylor (2)
Nick Gates (65)
New York Giants center Nick Gates (65) is carted off the the field after getting injured during an NFL football game against the Washington Football Team, Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021 in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)
New York Giants Offensive Line helps at the Food Bank for NYC in Harlem, New York
Nick Gates (65)
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Nick Gates (65)
New York Giants center Nick Gates (65) during a NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday November 24, 2022 in Arlington, Texas (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
Nick Gates (65)
Nick Gates (65)
New York Giants center Nick Gates (65) during a NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday November 24, 2022 in Arlington, Texas (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
Mark Glowinski (64), Nick Gates (65), Jack Anderson (77)
New York Giants center Nick Gates (65) during a NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday November 24, 2022 in Arlington, Texas (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
Nick Gates (65)
Jack Anderson (77), Tyre Phillips (79), Matt Peart (74), Jon Feliciano (76), Devery Hamilton (62), Nick Gates (65), Korey Cunningham, Mark Glowinski (64)
New York Giants offensIve lineman Nick Gates (65) signs an autograph following training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Wednesday July 27, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Nick Gates (65)
Nick Gates (65)
Nick Gates (65)
Nick Gates (65)
Nick Gates (65), Shane Lemieux (66)
Evan Neal (73), Nick Gates (65)
New York Giants center Nick Gates (65) lays on the field as members of the team medical staff tend to him during the first half of an NFL football game against the Washington Football Team, Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021, in Landover, Md. Gates sustained an injury on the play and was carted off the field. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
New York Giants center Nick Gates (65) acknowledges the crowds as he is carted off the field after sustaining an injury during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
New York Giants guard Nick Gates (65) takes part in a week 15 regular season game against the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium on Sunday December 15, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Nick Gates (65)
New York Giants guard Nick Gates (65) during a week 16 regular season game against the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field on Sunday December 22nd, 2019 in Landover, Maryland
New York Giants guard Nick Gates (65) during a week 17 regular season game against the Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium on Sunday December 29th, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants center Nick Gates (65) during the coin toss before a preseason game against the New England Patriots on Sunday August 29th, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants center Nick Gates (65) during minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday June 10, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Nick Gates (65)
New York Giants center Nick Gates (65) celebrates a touchdown with New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) during a preseason game against the New England Patriots on Sunday August 29th, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants guard Nick Gates (65) during a training camp scrimmage at Met Life Stadium on Friday August 28, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants guard Nick Gates (65) during a week 10 regular season football game against the Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium on November 15th, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants guard Nick Gates (65) and guard Kevin Zeitler (70) during a week 10 regular season football game against the Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium on November 15th, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants center Nick Gates (65) snaps the ball to New York Giants quarterback Colt McCoy (12) during a week 15 regular season football game against the Cleveland Browns at MetLife Stadium on December 20th, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants guard Nick Gates (65) during a week 17 regular season football game against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium on January 3, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants center Nick Gates (65) during a week 17 regular season football game against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium on January 3, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants center Nick Gates (65) lays on the field as members of the team medical staff tend to him during the first half of an NFL football game against the Washington Football Team, Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021, in Landover, Md. Gates sustained an injury on the play and was carted off the field. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
New York Giants guard Nick Gates (65) during a training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Tuesday August 18, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
OL Nick Gates (65) at New York Giants Training Camp 2019 at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, NJ
OLB Nick Gates (65) at New York Giants Training Camp 2019 at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, NJ
Nick Gates (65)
Nick Gates (65)
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OL Nick Gates (65) at New York Giants Training Camp 2019 at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, NJ
Nick Gates (65), Mark Glowinski (64)
Nick Gates (65)
Nick Gates (65)
Nick Gates (65)
Nick Gates (65)
New York Giants Offensive Line helps at the Food Bank for NYC in Harlem, New York
Andrew Thomas (78), Nick Gates (65)
Daniel Jones (8), Nick Gates (65)
New York Giants center Nick Gates (65) during a week 17 regular season football game against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium on January 3, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Nick Gates (65)
Nick Gates (65)
Nick Gates (65)
Nick Gates (65)
Nick Gates (65)
Nick Gates (65), Johnny Stanton (40)
Nick Gates (65)
Jack Anderson (77), Tyre Phillips (79), Matt Peart (74), Jon Feliciano (76), Devery Hamilton (62), Nick Gates (65), Korey Cunningham, Mark Glowinski (64)
Nick Gates (65)
New York Giants Offensive Line helps at the Food Bank for NYC in Harlem, New York
New York Giants at Washington Football Team 2021
New York Giants center Nick Gates (65) during a preseason game against the New York Jets on Saturday August 14th, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Nick Gates (65)
Nick Gates (65)
Nick Gates (65), Daniel Jones (8)
Nick Gates (65), Daniel Jones (8)
New York Giants center Nick Gates (65) and Daniel Jones (8) during a game against the New England Patriots on August 29, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants Offensive Line helps at the Food Bank for NYC in Harlem, New York
New York Giants center Nick Gates (65) during a game against the New England Patriots on August 29, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants guard Nick Gates participates during a scrimmage at the NFL football team's training camp, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Cleveland Browns' Malcolm Smith (56) breaks up a pass to New York Giants' Nick Gates (65) from Riley Dixon (9) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Giants running back Wayne Gallman (22) celebrates a touchdown with New York Giants center Nick Gates (65) during an NFL football game against the Washington Football Team, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020 in Landover, Md. The Giants defeated Washington 23-20 (Amanda Bowen via AP)
New York Giants guard Nick Gates (65) in action during the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
New York Giants center Nick Gates (65) prepares to snap the ball during an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Denver Broncos won 27-13. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
New York Giants center Nick Gates (65) during a NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday November 21, 2022 in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
Daniel Jones (8), Nick Gates (65), Tyrod Taylor (2)
Jack Anderson (77), Tyre Phillips (79), Matt Peart (74), Jon Feliciano (76), Devery Hamilton (62), Nick Gates (65), Korey Cunningham, Mark Glowinski (64)
Nick Gates (65), Mark Glowinski (64)
Mark Glowinski (64), Nick Gates (65)
New York Giants center Nick Gates (65) during a NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday November 24, 2022 in Arlington, Texas (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
Nick Gates (65)
New York Giants center Nick Gates (65) before a football game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday October 30, 2022 in Seattle, Washington (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)
*Gates was not the only player with a significant transaction.
*Tackle Matt Peart, who is on the PUP list, returned to practice. The Giants have three weeks to either activate him or keep him on the list through the end of the season.
Peart suffered a torn ACL last Dec. 26 in Philadelphia.
*Two second-year pros, linebacker Elerson Smith and cornerback Rodarius Williams, returned to practice. They have been on injured reserve since the beginning of the season.
Smith injured his lower leg in a training camp practice on Aug. 14. As a rookie in 2021, he spent the first eight weeks of the season on injured reserve with a hamstring injury suffered in training camp. Smith returned to play in eight games and totaled four tackles (one solo), two quarterback hits, one forced fumble and four special teams tackles.
Williams played in five games and had one solo tackle before tearing his right ACL at Dallas on Oct. 10. He spent the rest of the year on I.R.
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