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Giants offensive lineman Nick Gates suffering a left leg fracture in the first quarter of his team’s game Thursday night vs. Washington.
Gates was injured as he fell to the ground while pass blocking. The injury was so gruesome that NFL Network declined to show a replay of it.
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Gates had his left leg placed in an air cast before he was carted off to the locker room. The veteran smiled at times as he waved to fans who were cheering him in support.
The fracture was diagnosed soon after.
Injury Update: OL Nick Gates has a lower leg fracture.
— Dan Salomone (@Dan_Salomone) September 17, 2021
The team announced after the game that Gates would undergo surgery Friday morning at a Virginia hospital.
Gates, 25, is in his fourth NFL season after being signed an undrafted free agent by the Giants out of Nebraska in 2018. He missed the 2018 season because of a preseason foot injury.
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He has started at center, guard and tackle during his career, and he was at guard Thursday night after beginning the 2021 season at center.
The injury represents another blow to the Giants’ offensive line. Gates was the only lineman to play every offensive snap for the team in 2020 and he was at 100 percent participation after Week 1 this season, according to Pro Football Reference.
He is the second starter on the line this week to go down with an injury; left guard Shane Lemieux (knee) was placed on injured reserve Thursday. Gates moved into Lemieux’s spot Thursday night while Billy Price took over at center.
Ben Bredeson came on for Gates after the injury. Bredeson played 44 snaps at guard in Week 1 as Lemieux played just 17 snaps.
Gates is in the last year of a two-year contract extension he signed with the Giants in 2020.
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